Final answer:
America expanded after the French and Indian War because the Treaty of Paris of 1763 awarded Britain all French territories east of the Mississippi River, excluding New Orleans and Louisiana. The victory brought significant territorial gains but also posed challenges related to frontier defense and increased British debts, contributing to the American Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Expansion of America After the French and Indian War
After the French and Indian War, America became much bigger due to the Treaty of Paris of 1763, which ended the conflict. The treaty marked a significant change, with Britain taking over all French territories east of the Mississippi River, apart from New Orleans and Louisiana. This expansion was part of Britain's emergence as a global empire, enriching their control with additional overseas territories from the French, namely in the West Indies, India, and parts of Africa. The vast increase in territory, extending from Canada to Florida, raised new issues of defense and governance for Great Britain, as much of the land remained under the influence of native confederacies, despite the British military presence.
Important factors contributing to the expansion included the Ohio River Valley contestation between British and French colonists, the alignment of Native American tribes with either Britain or France, and the crucial military efforts such as those by George Washington. Although Great Britain was victorious, the victory came with challenges, such as the defense of the frontier against remaining French colonists and their powerful Native American allies.
The aftermath of the war resulted in a significantly larger America under British control, but the expansion also laid the groundwork for future conflicts. The burgeoning debts from the war and the continued military expenditure in North America would eventually lead to increased taxation and resentment among the colonists, contributing to the causes of the American Revolution.