The Coming of the Revolution

The nature and pace of American development changed spectacularly after 1763. Long-term demographic and economic growth continued, although there was considerable short-term disruption. Development, mobility and change were themselves disturbing, and their effects were aggravated by the emergence of major problems that previously had been only latent. Almost every colony was affected. Economic difficulties developed, and a number of dysfunctional processes disturbed the prevailing social order; in some colonies the supremacy of local elites was questioned. Arguably this made the colonists more sensitive to what they interpreted as provocation from outside. Externally, American relations with Britain, previously harmonious on the whole, degenerated into bitter conflict. The imperial crisis aggravated domestic tensions as well as drifted to war. In so doing it triggered a drastic transformation of American society and politics.