The Struggle for North America, 1608-1763

1. The Struggle for North America, 1608-1763

2. Review- Motivations for exploration and settlement • Spain • (conquest- gold) • French • (trade- fur) • British • (settle-land)

3. British-French Rivalry • 1689-1697: War of the Augsburg -King Williams War -French and Indian raids on New England frontier -New England attacks on Canada • 1702-1713: War of the Spanish Succession -Queen Anne’s War -Border raids between British and French colonists -Following 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, Britain provides colonies with decades of salutary neglect. -Expansion of British interests (Mercantile Economy/colonial smuggling

4. British-French Rivalry continued… • 1740-1748: War of the Austrian Succession -King George’s War -New England troops won victory at Louisburg at entry to St. Lawrence River (important waterway for trade) • French interests in the Ohio River Valley: -Needed a link to connect holdings in Canada and the lower Mississippi Valley -The French were outnumbered by the British throughout North America (30 to 1 ratio)

5. The Conflict Begins (1754) • Virginia Governor Robert Dinwiddie wanted to promote interests of the Ohio Company without antagonizing the French -Seven men are sent to urge the French to respect British rights in the Ohio River Valley -George Washington is sent as a part of the group (surveyor)

6. Moving Closer to War • France announces plans to build Fort Duquesne (present day Pittsburgh and territory claimed by Virginia) • Governor Dinwiddie sends a work force to build a British fort on the same spot -Construction crew and Military force are sent • George Washington brought troops to protect the construction crew -camped near the Monongahela River -attacked by a small French force (21 captured, 10 KIA) -intelligence suggested a larger French force in route (Fort Necessity is constructed) -Nine day siege in July 1754 (GW surrendered)

7. Moving Closer to War continued… • During the same time period: -Colonial delegates from NE, NY, PA, MD meet in Albany, New York (1) Immediate purpose: Keep the Iroquois tribes loyal to Britain (2) Long Range: achieve common defense against the French threat • Benjamin Franklin proposed the Albany Plan of Union • President-General for British colonies selected by the crown • Grand Council-to have legislative and taxing powers for purpose of defense • Albany Plan rejected (lack of colony’s independence and jealousy of sharing power to tax

8. French and Indian War (1756-1763) • Fighting starts in North America • British met defeat after defeat until 1759 when they won battles at -Ticonderoga -Crown Point -Quebec British General Jeffery Amherst

9. Outcome of the French and Indian War • Treaty of Paris 1763 ends the war • French surrendered all territorial claims in North America • Britain became the dominant power in North America • The British victory created sources of tension between Americans (colonies) and the mother country (England)

11. 1763- A Pivotal Year • Colonists had increased confidence and a sense of independence • Elimination of the French threat lessened their reliance on Britain • Britain still sensed a need for military presence in North America -Indian uprisings (Ottawa chief Pontiac) -French begin rebuilding their navy -British regarded the colonial militias as unreliable (colonial support)

12. End of Salutary Neglect • New Imperial Policy (Why) -British unhappy with illegal colonial trade -huge war debt that needed to be resolved • George Grenville -Chief advocate of British policies for King George III -Viewed as a man of limited vision -Treated the empire as a business concern -Initiates measures to reduce British expenses and to generate income for England

13. Proclamation of 1763 • Prohibited colonial settlement west of Appalachian Mountains • In the British view, this would generate orderly settlement and prevent further Indian wars • It led to measures to raise revenue whenever the colonists refused to provide for their own defenses

14. Revenue Act of 1764 • Revision of the Sugar Act of 1733 • Purpose was to raise revenue • Increased the number of items to be taxed (reality: cut the previous tax by ½) • New taxes on imports such as molasses from the West Indies • Admiralty courts would enforce collection (use of search warrants called “writs of assistance” to enforce collection)

15. Currency Act of 1764 • Prohibited colonial issue of paper money • This created a problem for the colonists because they were “coin-poor” • Reaction to the New Imperial Policy -Proclamation of 1763 ignored -Revenue Act was branded as “Taxation without representation” -Boycotts of British goods

16. Conclusion • The imposition of the New Imperial Policy beginnings in 1763 might suggest that the American Revolution should really be called the “British Revolution,” because marked changes in British colonial policy were more responsible for the final division than were American action. • Agree or Disagree? • Undoubtedly, in the two decades before the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, a profound shift occurred in the way many Americans thought and felt about the British government and their colonial governments. • What do you predict will be the legacy of this shift and will it affect more than just the American colonies and the British empire?