Fred Anderson.
Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766.
New York: Vintage Books, 2001 (originally published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2000).

The cultural and political differences between Britain and its North American colonies, which defined the War for American Independence, first became prominant during the French and Indian War and its aftermath. This book provides essential background information for the War for American Independence.

The author's Preface implies that this book places the American Revolution or War for American Independence (1775-1783) - better understood as a civil war within the British Empire - in a broader geopolitical context than Americans commonly understand it: as a sequela to British success in the Seven Years' War (European continental warfare: 1756-1763), which was precipitated by the conflict in British North America (major warfare in North America: 1754-1761) called the French and Indian War. The first approximate half of the book focuses mainly on military events in North America along with discussion of British government actions and motivations. The second half deals with the war's aftermath, particularly regarding British policies towards its North American Atlantic sea-board colonies, and the Americans' new sense of themselves and their place in the British Empire, especially in light of their recent close experience with the Brtish during the French and Indian War.

(Warning: The maps in the paperback edition require a magnifying glass to read. Read the hardcover edition if possible.)