Chapter 4

1. Chapter 4

2. Loosening Ties • British Imperial System-colonies got benefits of trade, commerce, military protection and political stability • 1707- Union of England and Scotland creates Great Britain • New Jersey (1702), South and North Carolina (1792), Georgia (1754)- became royal colonies (power to appoint governors and colonial officials)

3. Loosening Ties • Salutary Neglect- Parliament established supremacy over government; enforced policy of neglect- felt it would require increased taxes and diminish profits if they tightened imperial organization • During reigns of King George I and II the prime minister and cabinet members were the nation’s real executives. They were less inclined to tighten imperialism.

4. Loosening Ties • Robert Walpole- British Prime Minister refrained from strict enforcement of Navigation Acts to stimulate commerce. • Administration of colonial affairs inefficient- Board of Trade and Plantations (est. 1696): advisory board, little role in actual decisions

5. Loosening Ties • London officials rarely (if ever) visited the colonies, agents sent from colonies to encourage colonial affairs (Benjamin Franklin). • Governors- royal officials put in office through bribery or favoritism, rarely were qualifications considered. • 1750’s- American assemblies claimed right to levy taxes, make appropriations, approve appointments and pass laws for respective colonies

6. Loosening Ties • Privy Council (and admiralty and treasury) responsible for administering laws at home and overseas. • Royal officials: corrupt, hired substitutes to take places in America. • Colonists had stronger ties with England then with themselves. • Growth of colonial population produced Postal Service (1732- all the way from Boston to Virginia).

7. Loosening Ties • Albany Plan: proposed by Benjamin Franklin, parliament would set up one general government, colonies would keep present constitution but give certain powers to new general government (authority to govern Indian relations), appoint president general by king and legislature elected by colonial assemblies- none approved it. • Significance: colonies were not ready to unify

8. The Struggle For The Continent • Three powers in northeast North America: English, French, Iroquois • French and Indian War established English dominance • Brought Americans in closer contact with British authority, raised underlying tensions, rearranged global power, cemented England's role as world's greatest commercial and imperial nation- controlled most settled regions of North America

9. The Struggle For The Continent • France began to expand settlement, fur trade and Missionary French Jesuits drew immigrants to wilderness, French Empire compromised whole continental interior, set up fortresses, missions and trading posts, plantations (owned by Creoles-white French immigrants)

10. The Struggle For The Continent • Iroquois Confederation: 5 Indian nations- Mohawk, Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, and Oneida fought and won against Hurons, avoided close relationship with both French and English- able to maintain an easy balance of power in the Great Lakes Region. • Ohio Valley- principal area of conflict- French claimed it, English settlement expanding into it. • Anglo-French Wars: dispute among Queen Anne and Louis XIV- allied with Spain.

11. The Struggle For The Continent • Queen Anne's War: 12 years, border fighting with Spaniards in South, with French and their Indian allies in the North. • Treaty of Utrecht -1713, transferred substantial areas of French territory to English (Acadia, and Newfoundland)

12. The Struggle For The Continent • Disputes over British trading rights- war between Spain and England, led to clashes in Florida: Last colony of America was founded…Georgia. • King George's War: New Englanders captured the French Louisbourg, peace treaty made them abandon it. Caused relations between English, French and Iroquois to deteriorate.

13. The Struggle For The Continent • 1749- French construct new fortresses in Ohio Valley to sooth fear of English concession of French land; English protest by making military preparations- Iroquois nation allied with British. • Summer 1754- Washington built Fort Necessity next to French outpost (Fort Duquesne), staged unsuccessful attack, caused Washington to surrender- marked beginning of French and Indian War

14. The Struggle For The Continent • Phase 1- Fort Necessity to 1754; primarily North American conflict, colonists managed on own, British troops failed to prevent landing of French reinforcements in Canada, Braddock failed, defeated, Iroquois were not fighting although declared war on France, English settlers withdrew east of Allegheny Mountains to escape hostilities by 1755. Colonists defended themselves against western raids from Native Americans. Native Americans (except Iroquois) allied with the French.

15. The Struggle For The Continent • Phase 2- 1756:France and England formally opened hostilities (Seven Year's War), France allied with Austria, England with Prussia, fighting spread to West Indies, Europe William Pitt 1757- English secretary of state (future PM) brought war effort fully under British control, planned military strategy, issued orders to colonists. Impressment.

16. The Struggle For The Continent • Phase 3- 1758: Pitt relaxed many policies; agreed to reimburse colonists, returned control over military recruitment to colonial assemblies (dramatic increase in enlistment), sent additional troops France was weakened by poor harvests- tide of battle began to turn. By mid 1758 British military and colonial militia’s were seizing French forts.

17. The Struggle For The Continent • Jeffrey Amherst, James Wolfe- captured fortress at Louisbourg, Fort Duquesne fell without a fight. • Siege of Quebec- James Wolfe surprised forces of Marquis De Montcalm and defeated him, both commanders died, 1759- marked beginning of end of American phase of the war. • 1760- French army formally surrendered to Amherst in Montreal

18. The Struggle For The Continent • British brutality: displaced French inhabitants (who later became Cajuns) in Louisiana, took scalp bounties of Indians. • Peace of Paris 1763:French ceded West Indian Islands, most of colonies in India, transferred Canada and all other French territory east of the Mississippi to Britain (New Orleans given to Spain, along with claims to the west)

19. The Struggle For The Continent • Effects: expanded British Empire and colonies as well as territorial claims, enlarged Britain's debt, resentment towards Americans; angry with colonists financial contributions, bitter they sold food to enemy, thought it necessary to reorganize empire and give London more authority over colonies • Americans: viewed British involvement illegitimate, socializing experience for soldiers, created contrast with British regulars and their arrogance • Indians: broke British alliance with the Iroquois, Confederacy began to crumble, outnumbered and divided, unable to contest with British over Ohio Valley

20. The New Imperialism • British left with enormous debt - Could not avoid expanding involvement in colonies. • Colonists reluctant to tax selves, defied trade regulations • England began to view colonial empire not only in terms of trade, but land itself could be of value (due to population it supports, taxes it could produce).

21. The New Imperialism • Issues concerning Territorial Annexation: some argued rapid settlement should be allowed; this would run risk of creating conflicts with Indians. Others wanted to see territories open for immediate development; disagreed about who should control western lands (remain with England or be considered entirely new colonies unlinked to existing settlements). • England believed system of taxation was necessary to get rid of increasing debt.

22. The New Imperialism • George III: assumed power in 1760 at age 22, wanted to be active monarch, removed power from coalition of Whigs who governed empire, created new coalition and gained control of Parliament, new ministries were unstable (lasted an avg. of 2 years) had bouts of insanity. • George Grenville: appointed prime minister in 1763, believed colonists should obey laws and pay part of cost of defending empire, imposed new system of control.

23. The New Imperialism • English began moving to Ohio Valley- Indians objected and alliance of tribes under Ottawa chief Pontiac struck back • Proclamation of 1763-issued to prevent fighting that might threaten western trade, forbade settlers to move beyond line drawn along Appalachian Mountains. • Pros for Britain: allows London to control westward expansion of white settlement, limits costly dangerous conflicts with tribes, slow population exodus from coastal colonies.

24. The New Imperialism • John Stuart- in charge of Indian affairs in South, Sir William Johnson-north affairs, both helped improve relations between British and Indians. • Almost completely ineffective: settlers continued to swarm across boundary, claimed lands farther into Ohio Valley, new treaties written up but failed to stop expansion. Only pushed line of settlement farther west. Failed to meet limited demands of Natives.

25. Proclamation of 1763

26. The New Imperialism • Mutiny Act of 1765: British troops stationed permanently colonists now required to assist provisioning and maintaining army, customs service reorganized and enlarged • Sugar Act of 1764: designed to eliminate illegal sugar trade between West Indies and colonists, raised duty on sugar. Established vice-admiralty courts to try smugglers, depriving them sympathetic jurors • Currency Act of 1764: required colonial assemblies to stop issuing paper money, retire all paper money in circulation

27. The New Imperialism • Stamp Act of 1765: most momentous, imposed tax on printed documents in colonies: newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets, deeds. • Result: British officials collecting 10 times as much annual revenue from America. Tensions emerged between established societies of Atlantic Coast and settlement further west (Backcountry)- felt isolated, underrepresented

28. The New Imperialism • Paxton Boys: from western PA, wanted relief from colonial taxes and money to help defend selves against Indians. • Regulator Movement: small scale civil war as result of regulators (Carolina farmers) opposition to high taxes, Battle of Alamance suppressed revolt. Governor William Tyron raised army of militiamen from eastern counties, began “east vs. west” feud.

29. The New Imperialism • Found common grievances in Grenville Program: Northern Merchants suffer from commerce restraints, burden of taxation, Backcountry resented closing of West. • Southern planters: feared taxes, ability to ease debts by speculating western land. • All suffer from increased taxes, abolition of paper money, restraints on manufacturing

30. The New Imperialism • Postwar Depression: British money poured in colonies to stimulate economy. Economic bust. Tension in cities against British policy. • Treaty of 1763, urban Americans worried about periodic economic slumps, growth of unemployed • Political Consequences of Grenville Act- colonists want to protect powers of self­government, provincial assemblies desired to resist imperial policies

31. Stirrings of Revolt • War gave colonists renewed sense of importance and commitment for protecting their autonomy. Gave British belief that they needed to tighten administration of empire. • Stamp Act: affected all Americans, actual economic burdens were light, interpreted as direct attempt to raise revenue in colonies without consent of colonies. Merchants and lawyers had to buy stamps for ships’ papers and legal documents. Printers had to buy stamps for publications.

32. Stirrings of Revolt • Sugar act wasn’t dramatically different from imperial duties. Stamp act was direct attempt to raise revenue in colonies without the consent of the colonies. • Patrick Henry: made dramatic speech to the House of Burgesses (1765), introduced set of resolutions declaring Americans had same rights as British; can only be taxed by their own representation --circulated as the Virginia Resolves • James Otis: persuaded Massachusetts colonial assembly to call the Stamp Act Congress: 9 colonies petitioned King and Parliament. Said they owed Parliament “All due subordination” but denied that colonies could be taxed.

33. Stirrings of Revolt • Sons of Liberty: riots broke out summer 1765, terrorized stamp agents, ceased sale of stamps, destroyed Thomas Hutchinson's house (pro-British aristocrat). Spread a boycott of Sugar Act and other British Acts. Intimidated those less than willing to participate.

34. Stirrings of Revolt • England backed down: attitude changed due to economic pressure, colonial boycott spread, causing English merchants to lose colonial market, begged to repeal Stamp Act out of fear of unemployment, poverty • Marquis Rockingham: new prime minister (1765) convinced king to kill the Stamp Act

35. Stirrings of Revolt • Declaratory Act: passed same day, asserting Parliaments authority over colonies in “all cases whatsoever” • Charles Townshend: assumed leadership due to Pitt's inability to govern as Prime minister, known as "Weathercock" and "Champagne Charlie"- passed Mutiny (Quartering) Act 1765.

36. Stirrings of Revolt • Opposition of Mutiny Act: resent that contributions were mandatory, viewed as form of taxation without representation. Massachusetts assembly refused to vote mandated supplies in response. • Townshend disbanded New York Assembly until they agreed to obey Mutiny Act, levied new taxes.

37. Stirrings of Revolt • Townshend Duties: new taxes on various imported goods: lead, paint, paper, tea (external duties) • Results: colonists viewed them as effort to raise revenue without any consent, Massachusetts Assembly sent letter urging colonies to stand up against every tax- Lord Hillsborough (secretary of state for the colonies) warned assemblies endorsing Mass. would be dissolved, 92 to 17 rallied in support of it, new board of customs officials established, ended most smuggling in Boston, began to boycott British goods- Philadelphia and New York joined non-importation agreement.

38. Stirrings of Revolt • Lord North: new prime minister, attempted to break non-importation agreement and divide colonists- repealed Townshend Duties except tax on tea.

39. Stirrings of Revolt • Boston Massacre: British redcoats stationed in Boston as result of harassment of customs officials, 1770 British soldiers fired into a crowd, killing 5 people- local resistance leaders transformed murky incident into symbol of British brutality and oppression, • propaganda: Paul Revere, colonial pamphlets, newspapers

40. Stirrings of Revolt • Samuel Adams: most effective radical in colonies, proposed creation of Committee of Correspondence to publicize grievances against England. • Ideas in support of Revolution emerged: drawn from religious sources and political experiences

41. Stirrings of Revolt • "Radical" ideas from abroad: Scots-considered English tyrannical, Country Whigs- excluded from power, felt it was corrupt and oppressive system. • England's Balanced Constitution: government necessary to protect from evil, safeguards against abuses of power necessary- distributed power among monarchy, aristocracy and common people

42. Stirrings of Revolt • By 17th century Americans became convinced that constitution was in danger- single center of power (king and ministers) becoming corrupt and dangerous tyranny. • Americans believed in right to be taxed only with their own consent “No taxation without representation”

43. Stirrings of Revolt • Virtual Representation-idea colonies represented in Parliament even though they elected no representatives • Actual Representation- every community entitled its own representative elected by people of that community and directly responsible to them- no direct representatives in Parliament- not represented there

44. Stirrings of Revolt • Rise in revolutionary ideology- ordinary people heard, discussed and absorbed new ideas. • Colonists kept revolutionary sentiment alive- meetings in churches, schools, town squares and taverns continued. Growing discontent with English

45. Stirrings of Revolt • Gaspee Affair: act of rebellion. Colonists seized British revenue ship, set it afire and sank in Narragansett Bay (1772). Accused sent to London for trial, not tried in Colonial courts.

46. Stirrings of Revolt • Tea Act of 1773- revived revolutionary fervor, in effort to save East India Company, gave company right to export merchandise directly to colonies without paying navigation taxes­ could undersell merchants, create monopoly. • Results: boycotting tea, women particularly important (mass popular protest).

47. Stirrings of Revolt • Daughters of Liberty- Mercy Otis Warren led women in anti-British riots. Mocked male counterparts in British military.

48. Stirrings of Revolt • Boston Tea Party-(1773) dressed as Mohawks went aboard 3 ships, broke open tea chests and threw into Boston harbor

49. Stirrings of Revolt • Coercive Acts/Intolerable acts (1774)- George III closed port of Boston, reduced powers of self-government, permitted royal officers to be tried in other colonies when accused of crimes, provided for quartering of troops in colonists houses • Results: colonial legislatures passed resolves supporting Massachusetts, women continued to boycott British goods

50. Stirrings of Revolt • Quebec Act- object to civil government for French speaking Catholics- granted political rights to Roman Catholics, convinced some colonists it was a plot to subject them to tyranny of the pope, would hinder westward expansion