1. Being a Colony of Great Britain MILITARY PROTECTION Defense against Spanish, French & Native Am. threats SETTLEMENT RESTRICTION After French & Indian War, Britain forbade colonial settlement west of Appalachian Mts. (Proclamation of 1763) WHY? Wars with Native Am. were too costly! +PROS + -CONS-

2. +PRO+ -CON- ECONOMIC INCENTIVES (PROFIT) British paid extra $$ to encourage production of indigo, tobacco, etc. 1/3 of Britain’s ships were built in New England to meet their demand. MERCANTILISM Br. used the colonies as a source of raw materials & a market to buy back finished goods. Br. forbade colonial trade with other countries.

3. +PRO+-CON- SALUTARY NEGLECT Br. did not often enforce trade and settlement restrictions (5/6 of molasses was smuggled in (no taxes)) Am. Colonies prospered without much Br. Interference. STRICT ENFORCEMENT & UNFAIR TAXATION After Fr. & Indian War (1763), there was increased interference in colonists’ lives. NEW TAXES –Why? The Br. were heavily in debt!!

4. King George III HISTORICAL IRONY: July 4, 1776, when the colonies declared independence, he wrote in his diary, "Nothing important happened today."