Salutary Neglect to Reorganization

1. Salutary Neglect to Reorganization

2. Salutary Neglect and French-Indian War • Since 1688, England allowed American colonies to prosper largely under self-rule (“Salutary Neglect”) • French and Indian War (1754-1763) • Friction between English colonies and French colonies erupted over French move to take Ohio area • Indians fought on both sides • English-French tensions created worldwide “Seven Years War” 1756-63 George Washington commanded English troops in French and Indian War

3. Territorial Changes from French-Indian War • Treaty of Paris 1763, France gave territory between Appalachians and Mississippi to Britain. • Land west of the Mississippi and New Orleans transferred to Spain • Spain gave Florida and Cuba to Britain. • French Canada transferred to Britain • To avoid conflict and expenses, England passed Proclamation of 1763, forbidding colonial expansion into Indian lands west of Appalachians. • Britain maintained army of 10,000 in America to control western territories

4. Economics after French-Indian War • To win the war, Britain nearly doubled its national debt • Colonial economies boomed as Britain bought army supplies • To pay debts, Parliament raised taxes in England; English demanded tax on colonies.

5. British Attempts to Assert Control • Writs of Assistance • Meant to stop smuggling of cheaper goods from the French West Indies. • British officers could search suspected smugglers ships, warehouses & homes without “probable cause” • Boston lawyer James Otis argued that the Act was unconstitutional, but lost. George III

6. Sugar Act of 1764 • Increased the tax on molasses imported from French West Indies • Colonial exports (lumber, iron, furs) go through England • Increased complexity of shipping paper work • Offenders prosecuted without jury trial; judges were paid for convictions • Colonists avoided tax by bribing officials. England lowered tax to cost of typical bribe.

7. Stamp Act of 1765 • Tax on paper for newspapers, diplomas and most legal documents. • Colonists had no legal representation: internal tax violated English law; Parliament argued that colonists had “virtual representation”. • Patrick Henry persuaded eight colonies to pass resolutions against the Act • Boston: colonists rioted and began intimidation campaign against tax collectors and governor. • Sons of Liberty organized groups to lead demonstrations • Boycott of British goods by NY merchants: English exporters forced Parliament to repeal the Act. • To save face, Parliament passed Declaratory Act: asserted its power to make laws for and place taxes on the colonies.

8. Quartering Act • Colonial assemblies must raise taxes to pay for maintaining British soldiers. • New York, initially refused to pay for any supplies but eventually agreed.

9. Townshend Acts of 1767-1770 • Taxes on some imports (paint, lead, glass, paper and tea). • Not an “internal tax” so Townshend didn’t expect colonial opposition. • Revenue to pay governors so assemblies would lose leverage over governors. • Colonists argued taxes raised revenue, not to protect merchants’ interests. • MA and VA assemblies wrote protest to Parliament, citing “no taxation without representation.” Tar and Feathering, shown in drawing of the time

10. Fallout from Townshend Acts • Hillsborough (who replaced Townshend) overreacted, gave governors right to dismiss assemblies. • Colonists protested duties through non-importation, leading to 40% drop in British imports. • Merchants in England pressured Parliament to repeal. • Women led boycotts of tea and made their own cloth • Bribing customs officials and smuggling undermined Townshend duties. • 1770 Townshend Duties finally repealed after Boston Massacre. Tea tax kept. Clovis points used for spears