380 likes | 449 Views
5. Bursting the Bonds of Empire. Bursting the Bonds of Empire. The Climactic Seven Years’ War The Crisis with Britain On the Brink of Rebellion Severing the Colonial Bonds Conclusion: Coming of Revolution. The Climactic Seven Years’ War. Background.
E N D
5 Bursting the Bonds of Empire
Bursting the Bonds of Empire • The Climactic Seven Years’ War • The Crisis with Britain • On the Brink of Rebellion • Severing the Colonial Bonds • Conclusion: Coming of Revolution
Background • England reorganizes imperial administration • Board of Trade • Royal governors given more power • Attempts to enforce policy • Economic regulations tie England more closely to its colonies • England hopes to control Atlantic trade • War with Spain from 1739
Outbreak of the War • As British colonies grow, conflicts with French increase • Fort-building along the British-French border • English send thousands of troops • Initial French victory • Indians ally with French • 1756 – British declare war on France • French and Indian war becomes a world war
Fighting • Indians use European powers against each other • French defeated by 1760 • Capture of Montréal • Fighting continues elsewhere • England had defeated the power of France in North America
Legacy • Treaty of Paris, 1763 • Spain gets New Orleans, Louisiana Territory • Indians now under British rule • Most alliances had been with the French • British issue Proclamation of 1763 • Colonies indebted, weakened
Legacy of the Seven Years’ War • George Grenville, George III’s chief minister • Debt • Cost of standing forces in North America • New taxes levied • Sugar Act, 1764 • Stamp Act, 1765
Reactions to the Stamp Act • Virginia’s House of Burgesses responds • Debate led by Patrick Henry • Virginia Resolves
Reactions to the Stamp Act (cont’d) • Attacks on British agents • Stamp Act Congress, New York, September, 1765 • Sons of Liberty • Violent protest
British Response • Declaratory Act 1766 • Townshend duties • Colonists attack agents that enforce the measure • British troops occupy Boston • Fire on crowd, 1770
Protest among Farmers • Regulators • Farmers’ associations in North Carolina • Used force against courts, opponents • Attacked with British troops • Similar action in New York • Uprising against wealthy landlords
Committees of Correspondence • 1772, British crown takes control in Massachusetts • Samuel Adam leads reaction in Boston • Committees of Correspondence • Further enflamed by Tea Act • Tea Act, 1773 • Intended to bail out East India Company • Leads to boycott, especially by colonial women
The Continental Congress • Coercive Acts, 1774 • In response to Tea Party and other actions • Called Intolerable Acts in colonies • Boston harbor closed • Limited local government • Continental Congress called, 1774 • Representatives from twelve colonies • Local movements now tied together
Urban Revolt • Revolt centered on urban areas • Philadelphia • Conflicts between merchants and artisans • Protest spreads, becomes radical
Rupture • General Gage ordered to seize Boston rebels • Fighting at Lexington and Concord, April, 1775 • Second Continental Congress meets, May, 1775 • Olive Branch Petition sent to Britain • This attempt at reconciliation rebuffed
Rupture (cont'd) • Common Sense • Successful in raising feeling against Britain
The Declaration of Independence • Resolution calling for independence, June 7, 1776 • Declaration issued, July 4
The Articles of Confederation • Continental Congress • Debate over powers of central government • Compromise reached • Articles of Confederation, 1777 • Congress given extensive powers • States given right to tax, but cede land claims • Central government has no coercive powers • Approved, 1780
Mobilizing • Calls both for war and for loyalty to Britain • Many protests, often extralegal • Revolutionary republicanism • Public virtue – ceding private interests to the public good • Factions – seen as destructive • Political equality – debate over extent
Mobilizing (cont'd) • State governments reorganized • Constitutions written
Debates over State Government • Pennsylvania • New constitution • Intense debate • Franchise extended to all white, taxpaying men • Massachusetts • John Adams helps write constitution • Two legislative houses
Women and the Franchise • Few supported extension of the franchise to women • Women take part in printed debates • Vocal in pressing for rights, though not equality
Conclusion:Coming of Revolution • Seven Years’ War • Britain controls most of North America • But Britain begins to reorganize colonies • Colonists begin to question their role • Colonists’ needs versus imperial goals • More colonists become politically active