After the French and Indian War of 1754 to 1763, Great Britain was the premier colonial power in North America. The Treaty of Paris (1763) more than doubled British territories in North America and eliminated the French as a threat. While British power seemed more secure than ever, signs of trouble began to brew in the colonies. The colonists began feeling the confidence that sweet victory brings. They increasingly saw themselves as a separate entity, one that could defend itself against any opposing threat. However, this era of independence ended suddenly when King George III and Parliament began affirming their need for the colonies in order to remain a world power and to generate revenue through taxes and trade. The British government began to increase control over the colonies and levied taxes, which in turn led to infuriated colonists and the inevitable rebellion known as the American Revolution.
Following the French and Indian War, the colonists felt a wonderful rush of independence upon them. Americans had even developed their own economic system within British mercantilism. They became economically and politically independent with their own government structures as well. Once somebody tastes a little bit of freedom, they will undoubtedly want more. Once their independence emerged, the colonists believed that they could thrive on their own. However, Great Britain began imposing heavy taxes because the war had left the country with a huge debt that had to be paid. Parliament said it had fought the long and costly war to protect its American subjects from the powerful French in Canada. Parliament said it was right to tax the American colonists to help pay the bills for the war. However, most Americans disagreed. They believed that England had fought the expensive war mostly to strengthen its empire and increase its wealth, not to benefit its American subjects. Furthermore, the Revolutionary War became inevitable when King George III also passed the Proclamation Line of 1763. After fighting in the French and Indian War, the colonists had won the land between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River. To diminish the cost of frontier defense, Great Britain stated that white settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains was banned. This made it clear to the colonists that they were not considered equal members of the British government. Rather, they were being used for their services and the goods they provides. Taxes and laws began leading to a defiance of parliament; thus igniting motive for a revolution.