The Seven Years' War, which ended with England's victory over France in 1763, left the winning nation in possession of already colonized rich territories on the American continent, and recognized its right to expand its dominance toward the interior of the continent. This possibility pleased the settlers, who were ready to exploit new lands, but, to their great surprise, the London government, for fear of unleashing wars with the Indian nations, determined that no further exploration or colonization of territories could be made without signing treaties with the Indians. This was the first source of conflict between the settlers and the English Crown. The settlers also accused the English of maintaining permanent armies on American territory and maintaining a forged judiciary with mock trials, and the use of mercenaries to occupy American territory.
But soon after, new friction arose. Seeking to restore its financial equilibrium, the metropolis clutched the colonial pact with various acts. In 1750 the smelting of iron in the colonies was prohibited; in 1754 the manufacture of fabric and smuggling were prohibited. Despite winning the Seven Years' War, England imposed new restrictive measures on the Thirteen Colonies. In 1765 a decree was passed regulating the obligation to house and support English troops on American soil (a practice that weighed heavily on colonial finances). The Stamp Act was also introduced, which added a stamp duty on newspapers, legal and official documents, etc, and the Townshend Acts, which sought to limit and even prevent Americans from continuing their business relations with regions other than England.
In 1773, the English Parliament granted the tea trade monopoly to the East India Company, of which many English personalities owned shares. American rebel traders who felt harmed disguised themselves as red-skinned Indians, robbed the company's ships in Boston Harbor, and launched the tea shipment at sea (Boston Tea Party). England reacted immediately with a set of laws that Americans called "Intolerable Acts" (1774): closing Boston Harbor; compensation to the injured company and the judgment of those involved in England.
The reactions of the settlers were at first exalted but peaceful: they demanded the right to elect representatives to the London Parliament (so that they could discuss and vote on the laws that concerned them) and then to boycott English goods. This economic war would unleash riots and forced the English government into some setbacks, which however did not satisfy the settlers. The conflict escalated with the presence of troops sent to contain the protests. In response, in 1774 the representatives of the American colonies, except Georgia, sent their delegates to Philadelphia at a First Continental Congress which, from then on, though with differences within it, was the political voice of the settlers.
Soon thereafter, a Second Continental Congress was convened in Philadelphia where it was decided to set up an army to be led by George Washington, a farmer and chief of the Virginia militia.
In this Congress, despite remaining loyal to the king, the settlers called for the suspension of the "Intolerable Acts" and signed the Olive Branch Petition, in which they called for the abolition of restrictions on trade and industry, as well as abusive taxes. The king responded by asking the colonists to submit; but these did not bow before the English crown. The overthrow of the positions led to the creation of militias, the establishment of ammunition depots and a continuous increase in tension that would break out in war.
