Changes

The [[Seven Years War]] ended in British victory in 1763, and there were no foreign threats to the American colonies, nor any serious Indian threats.  London wanted stifling controls on the colonial economy and on westward expansion. They insisted that the colonists new taxes, but refused to allow representation in Parliament.  Britain was not asking the Americans to share the burden of warfare--they never asked the colonial legislatures for that.  Instead they insisted that Parliament had every right to tax the colonists whether they liked it or not.  Power was the issue. Ominously London sent thousands of regular army troops--was this to protect the colonists from nonexistent threats, or to protect the Royal officials from the anger of the people?<ref> "Regular" means full-time, long-term soldiers, either British or Hessian (German) or American (the latter known as Continentals.) Contrast with "militia", who were temporary citizen-soldiers, commanded by state officers. After a battle the militia went home, and the regulars stayed in camp.</ref>  

The [[Seven Years War]] ended in British victory in 1763, and there were no foreign threats to the American colonies, nor any serious Indian threats.  London wanted stifling controls on the colonial economy and on westward expansion. They insisted that the colonists new taxes, but refused to allow representation in Parliament.  Britain was not asking the Americans to share the burden of warfare--they never asked the colonial legislatures for that.  Instead they insisted that Parliament had every right to tax the colonists whether they liked it or not.  Power was the issue. Ominously London sent thousands of regular army troops--was this to protect the colonists from nonexistent threats, or to protect the Royal officials from the anger of the people?<ref> "Regular" means full-time, long-term soldiers, either British or Hessian (German) or American (the latter known as Continentals.) Contrast with "militia", who were temporary citizen-soldiers, commanded by state officers. After a battle the militia went home, and the regulars stayed in camp.</ref>  

Nothing seemed more dangerous to the precious political liberties of the Americans than the sort of standing army Britain was forcing upon them. The colonists responded by setting up their own shadow government, including local committees and (beginning in 1774) a [[Continental Congress]]. The Empire thought it knew how to suppress rebellions--in 1715 and 1745 it had ruthlessly crushed the Highlanders in Scotland; in the 17th century it had taken control of Ireland in campaigns that killed thousands of Catholic rebels and left the Protestants in total domination.  

Nothing seemed more dangerous to the precious political liberties of the Americans than the sort of standing army Britain was forcing upon them. The colonists responded by setting up their own shadow government, including local committees and (beginning in 1774) a [[Continental Congress]]. The Empire thought it knew how to suppress rebellions--in 1715 and 1745 it had ruthlessly crushed the Highlanders in Scotland; in the 17th century it had taken control of Ireland in campaigns that killed thousands of Catholic rebels and left the Protestants in total domination.