Salutary Neglect to Reorganization

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

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

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.

1761: 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

Proclamation of 1763

• Issued by George III after Britain's acquisition of French territory in North America

• Established Britain's vast new North American empire,

• Tried to stabilize relations with Native Americans by regulating trade, settlement, and land purchases on frontier.

• Forbade colonists of the 13 colonies from settling or buying land west of the Appalachian Mountains.

• Led to outrage in colonies, as many colonists had already acquired land in that region.

• Gave Crown a monopoly in land bought from Native Americans.