In this assignment, I want you to put yourself in the perspective of a high-ranking British official whose goal is to effectively administer the new territories gained from the French and Indian War. There are two major problems you have to deal with, “Western Lands” and “Finances.” It is up to you to determine the best solutions from among the list of possible solutions. In your answers, provide the reasoning. Particularly strong answers will use information from the textbook to support their reasoning.

Problem 1: Western Lands

In the Ohio River Valley, Chief Pontiac realized that the defeat of his French allies meant his ancestral lands would soon be overrun by English settlers. Hundreds of pioneers were killed, and many of the survivors were forced to abandon their homesteads. Pontiac’s warriors were finally defeated, but not by colonial soldiers. British redcoats were dispatched to crush the Native American fighters who wished to expel all foreigners from their homelands. The conclusion officials in London drew from this episode was that the colonists could or would not defend themselves. This conclusion was reinforced by the failure of colonists to supply men, supplies, or revenues to help the British war effort during the French and Indian War. Fearing renewed fighting with the Native Americans, the French, and the Spanish, British field commanders suggested permanent garrisons along the Ohio River Valley, the Great Lakes, and the Mississippi.

English policy makers also began to plan for the development of the Ohio Valley and other Western territories. They were faced with several problems. First, there were conflicting claims over the Ohio area between Pennsylvania and Virginia. Second, decisions had to be made whether and what lands had to be set aside for sale, for farming, and for hunting and trapping. Third, the competing claims of colonial speculators (such as George Washington’s Ohio Company) and British land agents had to be resolved. Finally, the claims of Native Americans, some of whom had signed treaties with England in exchange for their war-time cooperation, had to be resolved.

Possible Solutions to Problem 1

1. Station several regiments of British troops in the colonies to defend the West against the French and the Native Americans.

2. Temporarily close Western lands until sound plans for their future could be drawn up.

3. Allow settlers to move west at their own risk without defending them against the Native Americans.

Problem 2: Finances

Officials in London estimated that 10,000 British soldiers would be needed to defend the American colonists from Native Americans and a possible French attempt to re-establish their base in Canada. The cost of maintaining such a large army would be £300,000 per year. The British thought the colonists should help pay for the cost of their own protection.

Furthermore, the French and Indian War had cost the British treasury £70,000,000 and doubled their national debt to £140,000,000. Compared to this staggering sum, the colonists’ debts were extremely light, as was their tax burden. Not counting the mercantile regulations, the colonists paid only about 1/20th of the taxes that were paid by the British. Attempts to raise taxes in Great Britain had resulted in the famous cider riots. The British had already reimbursed the colonists with £275,000, for their share of the costs of the French and Indian War.

Now, taxpayers in England thought it was about time that their counterparts in the New World should ante-up. The colonists saw no reason for paying England to fight a war to keep them in the British Empire. They had never paid direct taxes to England, and had no intention of paying for a war they claimed they hadn’t started and didn’t need, especially since they had no say in the government which might be asking them to pay what it thought was their “fair share.”

Possible Solutions to Problem 2

1. Increase taxes on people living in England.

2. Put taxes on articles of everyday use on people living in the colonies.

3. Have colonists pay the same taxes as people living in England.

*Will not let me upload multiple pictures of text book. Will provide information

*make over 275 words if possible. Like 350 words or 400. I am aware price will be higher.