The beginning of the 1700's marked a new era waiting to be conquered. There was more land to be taken over and more people waiting to migrate to North America. The westward expansion of colonial America developed a problem that was first to affect the British and later influence the growth of the United States. It also marked the start of many wars to come. .
In 1702, the twelve-year war broke out. This then started the French and Indian War. This was a war engaged by France and Britain. It was inevitable that a war would occur in the New World. The reason for this was because they had been in conflict for generations in Europe and they had not improved their relations in North America, where their colonies laid side by side. Though this originally began in 1690 with the massacre of colonists in New York by the French and Indians. Within a seventy-year span, four colonial wars were fought, the King William's War, Queen Anne's War, King George's War, and the French and Indian War. The French and Indian War gave its name to the whole series of wars because it was the last and most important conflict. It proved to be the end of French power in North America. Despite their close alliances, the Indians, the French were never able to overcome the disadvantage of their small population in Canada and their lack of organized colonies. The war ended with the defeat of the French and Indians in 1763. The departure of France as a power on the continent was like the passing of a cloud over their heads. Though the British government saw a larger problem in the heavy expense of the French and Indian War that was fought. Although the colonies had made contributions in men and money occasionally, England provided most of the men fighting, the ships, and the large quantity of supplies and equipment. Since the victory of the war removed the bothersome French from North America and the colonies themselves, the English thought it was only right that the colonists should pay for the expenses of the war and all the money England lost because they defended the colonies.
