King of Great Britain
King George III was born on June 4, 1738. He became heir to the throne on the death of his father in 1751 and succeeded his grandfather George II in 1760. During his reign, there were many conflicts involving his kingdom. After the French and Indian War, the British Parliament angered the American colonists by taxing them to pay for military protection. In 1776 the American colonists declared their independence and listed their grievances against the king. The Treaty of Paris of 1783 ended the Revolutionary War and confirmed the independence of the United States. After 1784, George III largely retired from an active role in government. He suffered a nervous breakdown in 1789. After he was declared insane in 1810, his son was appointed to rule for him.
Discussion Questions
- How did the financial and military aftermath of the French and Indian War contribute to tensions between Britain and the American colonies?
- Why is it important to distinguish George III’s role from the role of Parliament and British ministers when studying the causes of the American Revolution?
- How did the Treaty of Paris change George III’s relationship to the former thirteen colonies?
- Why is modern historical language about George III’s illness more cautious than the wording commonly used in older biographies?