The Empire Under The Empire Under StrainStrain

Chapter 4Chapter 4

Distance Distance

After Glorious Revolution (1688) After Glorious Revolution (1688) England made no serious effort to England made no serious effort to tighten control over coloniestighten control over colonies

Kings ControlKings Control– ColoniesColonies– i. New Jersey 1702i. New Jersey 1702– ii. North and South Carolina 1729ii. North and South Carolina 1729– iii. Georgia 1754 iii. Georgia 1754

Distance (cont.)Distance (cont.)

Mercantilist LawsMercantilist Laws– i. Navigation Actsi. Navigation Acts– ii. restricting colonial manufacturesii. restricting colonial manufactures– iii. prohibiting paper currencyiii. prohibiting paper currency– iv. regulating tradeiv. regulating trade

Loose Policy Loose Policy – Robert Walpole, PM, believed that little Robert Walpole, PM, believed that little

control was goodcontrol was good– Few officials visit AmericaFew officials visit America– Colonial appointments came from Colonial appointments came from

bribery or favoritism bribery or favoritism First American AssembliesFirst American Assemblies

– 1750s claim right to levy taxes, make 1750s claim right to levy taxes, make appropriations, approve appointments appropriations, approve appointments and pass laws and pass laws

– Colonists continue to think of Colonists continue to think of themselves as loyal English subjectsthemselves as loyal English subjects

– England only tie England only tie

Improving Improving CommunicationCommunication

– Trade = roads and Trade = roads and seaportsseaports

– colonial postal servicecolonial postal service Still WeakStill Weak

– 1754 when faced with 1754 when faced with war against French war against French and Indians British and Indians British gov. allows delegates gov. allows delegates from Penn., Mary., NY, from Penn., Mary., NY, NE to meet in AlbanyNE to meet in Albany

– Ben Franklin proposes Ben Franklin proposes Albany PlanAlbany Plan

Ben Franklin proposes Ben Franklin proposes Albany PlanAlbany Plan– ““one general gov.” one general gov.” – ““retain it’s present constitution”retain it’s present constitution”– ““president general”president general”– It was REJECTED / Failure to agree.... Ben It was REJECTED / Failure to agree.... Ben

Franklin exclaims that colonists are a Franklin exclaims that colonists are a bunch of “weak noodles”bunch of “weak noodles”

The War Before the The War Before the WarWar

French and Iroquois French and Iroquois – French and English coexisted French and English coexisted

peacefully for nearly a century peacefully for nearly a century – French deep in continentFrench deep in continent– French JesuitsFrench Jesuits– French men married nativesFrench men married natives

Tensions ariseTensions arise– Louis XIV wishes to Louis XIV wishes to

expand empireexpand empire– ““Louis”iana Louis”iana – Battle for N.A would Battle for N.A would

be determined by be determined by which group could which group could best win the best win the allegiance of allegiance of natives: natives:

English offered English offered goodsgoods

French offered French offered tolerancetolerance

Iroquois Iroquois ConfederacyConfederacy– five Indian nationsfive Indian nations– UnifiedUnified

Ohio ValleyOhio Valley– French claimed itFrench claimed it– Indians lived thereIndians lived there– English colonists English colonists

begin to expand begin to expand into itinto it

More Drama in More Drama in Europe!Europe!

– William of Orange William of Orange takes over Englandtakes over England

– William is one of Louis William is one of Louis XIV’s biggest enemies XIV’s biggest enemies Louis wants to expand Louis wants to expand and William opposes and William opposes him (King William’s him (King William’s War 1689-1697)War 1689-1697)

– France = Catholic ; France = Catholic ; Spain = Catholic ; Spain = Catholic ; Spain + France = Spain + France = Powerful AlliesPowerful Allies

More Drama in Europe! Cont’dMore Drama in Europe! Cont’d– Queen Anne (William’s sister in law) Queen Anne (William’s sister in law)

ascends the throne 1702 ascends the throne 1702 Queen Anne’s War 1701-1713Queen Anne’s War 1701-1713 border fighting with Spanish in Southborder fighting with Spanish in South border fighting with French to Northwestborder fighting with French to Northwest

– France + Prussia vs. England + Austria France + Prussia vs. England + Austria = King George’s War 1744-1748= King George’s War 1744-1748

Iroquois begin trading with English, thus Iroquois begin trading with English, thus English move westEnglish move west

French set up forts in response in the Ohio French set up forts in response in the Ohio ValleyValley

Phase One: French Phase One: French Indian War (aka Indian War (aka Seven Year’s War)Seven Year’s War)

– Fort Necessity DebacleFort Necessity Debacle Fort NecessityFort Necessity George Washington’s George Washington’s

troops forced to troops forced to surrendersurrender

– Weak British Weak British AssistanceAssistance

General Edward General Edward Braddock failed in 1755 Braddock failed in 1755 to stop a fleet of French to stop a fleet of French reinforcementsreinforcements

ambush leaves ambush leaves Braddock dead and Braddock dead and troops in disarraytroops in disarray

– Indian RaidsIndian Raids all Indian tribes (except all Indian tribes (except

Iroquois) allied with Iroquois) allied with FrenchFrench

Phase Two: Phase Two: French Indian WarFrench Indian War

– IntercontinentalIntercontinental Fighting in Europe, Fighting in Europe,

W.Indies, and IndiaW.Indies, and India Principal Struggle in Principal Struggle in

North AmericaNorth America

– William Pitt: William Pitt: America Under America Under British ControlBritish Control

impressmentimpressment housing/quarteringhousing/quartering

Phase Three: French Indian WarPhase Three: French Indian War– Pitt agrees to reimburse the colonists for all Pitt agrees to reimburse the colonists for all

supplies taken during the warsupplies taken during the war– Returned control of military recruitment to the Returned control of military recruitment to the

colonial assembliescolonial assemblies Turning the TideTurning the Tide

– French were always outnumberedFrench were always outnumbered– Poor Harvests 1756Poor Harvests 1756– Scalp bounties = brutal raids as counter attackScalp bounties = brutal raids as counter attack

Peace of ParisPeace of Paris– French give some West Indian islandsFrench give some West Indian islands– Gave Canada and all other French territory east Gave Canada and all other French territory east

of the Mississippi to Great Britainof the Mississippi to Great Britain– Ceded New Orleans and all lands west of the Ceded New Orleans and all lands west of the

Mississippi to Spain Mississippi to Spain

EffectsEffects– English PerspectiveEnglish Perspective

Greatly expanded England’s territory in New WorldGreatly expanded England’s territory in New World Enlarged Britain’s debtEnlarged Britain’s debt Officials in England angry about colonistsOfficials in England angry about colonists Particularly bitter at colonists Particularly bitter at colonists

– Colonists PerspectiveColonists Perspective colonial assembliescolonial assemblies illegitimacy of British presenceillegitimacy of British presence British perceived as arrogantBritish perceived as arrogant

– Native perspectiveNative perspective Ohio Valley natives: disastrous because allied with Ohio Valley natives: disastrous because allied with

French = enemies with BritainFrench = enemies with Britain Iroquois: mistrust from British because of inaction Iroquois: mistrust from British because of inaction

during warduring war outnumbered and unorganizedoutnumbered and unorganized

From Rash Recovery to From Rash Recovery to RebellionRebellion

King George III King George III – ascended to ascended to

throne in 1760throne in 1760– age twenty-twoage twenty-two– suffered from suffered from

bouts of insanitybouts of insanity– nominates George nominates George

Grenville PM in Grenville PM in 17631763

tried to control tried to control colonistscolonists

believed in limiting believed in limiting their freedomstheir freedoms

King George III Cont’dKing George III Cont’d– Marquis of Rockingham Marquis of Rockingham

succeeds Grenville as succeeds Grenville as PM in July 1765PM in July 1765

tried to appease both tried to appease both English and AmericansEnglish and Americans

got king to repeal Stamp got king to repeal Stamp ActAct

kicked out of officekicked out of office

– William Pitt becomes William Pitt becomes PM (again) 1766PM (again) 1766

old and mentally unstableold and mentally unstable Charles Townshend Charles Townshend

substitutessubstitutes CT dies in 1767CT dies in 1767

– Lord North becomes PM Lord North becomes PM 17671767

repeals all Townshend repeals all Townshend Acts except tax on TeaActs except tax on Tea

Post War PoliciesPost War Policies– Proclamation of 1763Proclamation of 1763 (Grenville) (Grenville)

forbid settlers to advance beyond a line forbid settlers to advance beyond a line drawn along the Appalachian Mts.drawn along the Appalachian Mts.

– British Incentives:British Incentives: control west. movement of colonial pop.control west. movement of colonial pop. avoid conflict with Natives ($)avoid conflict with Natives ($) keep colonists near coastline for trade ($)keep colonists near coastline for trade ($)

– Cherokee supported it, hoped to end Cherokee supported it, hoped to end white expansion westwhite expansion west

– Colonial Response:Colonial Response: Whites continued to claim lands across the Whites continued to claim lands across the

boundary lineboundary line

Post War Policies Cont’dPost War Policies Cont’d– Sugar Act of 1764Sugar Act of 1764 (Grenville) (Grenville)

British Incentives:British Incentives:– eliminate illegal sugar tradeeliminate illegal sugar trade– British courts in America to try accused smugglers, British courts in America to try accused smugglers,

Colonial Response;Colonial Response;– hampered tradehampered trade– business, $, lostbusiness, $, lost– anger towards outside controlanger towards outside control

– Currency Act of 1764Currency Act of 1764 (Grenville) (Grenville) stop issuing paper money and to destroy all stop issuing paper money and to destroy all

money in circulationmoney in circulation

Post War Policies Cont’dPost War Policies Cont’d– Stamp Act of 1765Stamp Act of 1765 (Grenville) (Grenville)– imposed a tax on most printed documents in imposed a tax on most printed documents in

the colonies: newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets, the colonies: newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets, deeds, wills, licensesdeeds, wills, licenses

– British Incentives:British Incentives: profitprofit limit propaganda, communicationlimit propaganda, communication

– Colonists Response:Colonists Response: taxes prior were intended to raise commerce, this one taxes prior were intended to raise commerce, this one

raised moneyraised money anger towards taxation without consentanger towards taxation without consent Patrick Henry “Virginia Resolves”Patrick Henry “Virginia Resolves” Stamp Act Congress meets in NYStamp Act Congress meets in NY Son’s of Liberty terrorize stamp agentsSon’s of Liberty terrorize stamp agents RiotsRiots

– British Response to Colonial Response British Response to Colonial Response (Rockingham):(Rockingham):

New gov’t convinces king to end the Stamp Act in New gov’t convinces king to end the Stamp Act in 1766 1766

English power’s demand a new law in response...English power’s demand a new law in response...

Post War Policies Cont’dPost War Policies Cont’d– Declaratory Act 1766Declaratory Act 1766 (Rockingham) (Rockingham)

asserted Parliament’s authority over the colonies “in asserted Parliament’s authority over the colonies “in all cases whatsoever”all cases whatsoever”

gave Parliament sweeping powergave Parliament sweeping power

– Mutiny Act of 1765Mutiny Act of 1765 (Grenville) (Grenville) colonists required to assist in the provisioning and colonists required to assist in the provisioning and

maintaining of the armymaintaining of the army colonial officials ordered to take up posts (no more colonial officials ordered to take up posts (no more

substitutes)substitutes) restricted colonial manufacturingrestricted colonial manufacturing British Incentives:British Incentives:

– stop smugglersstop smugglers– keep colonial businesses from competing with Englishkeep colonial businesses from competing with English

Colonial response:Colonial response:– trade limited, businesses go bankrupttrade limited, businesses go bankrupt– anger towards outside controlanger towards outside control– taxation without consenttaxation without consent– British Response to Colonial Response.....British Response to Colonial Response.....

Post War Policies Cont’dPost War Policies Cont’d– Townshend Acts 1767Townshend Acts 1767

disbanded NY assembly disbanded NY assembly levied new taxes on different productslevied new taxes on different products board of customs in Bostonboard of customs in Boston imposes a tax on teaimposes a tax on tea 1st Colonial Response:1st Colonial Response:

– Massachusetts Assembly circulates letter to all colonial Massachusetts Assembly circulates letter to all colonial gov’ts urging them to stand against every taxgov’ts urging them to stand against every tax

– boycott boycott British Response (North; Townshend dead):British Response (North; Townshend dead):

– repeals all Townshend Acts except tax on Tea repeals all Townshend Acts except tax on Tea

The Boston Massacre (the “snowball” The Boston Massacre (the “snowball” effect)effect)

– Townshend Acts had taken toll:Townshend Acts had taken toll: redcoats” everywhereredcoats” everywhere presence resented presence resented

– March 5, 1770 snowball fight turns into March 5, 1770 snowball fight turns into Boston Massacre killing 5 Boston Massacre killing 5

– Angry colonial propaganda by colonial Angry colonial propaganda by colonial writers fuel a fire (Samuel Adams) writers fuel a fire (Samuel Adams)

The Boston Tea PartyThe Boston Tea Party– Strict enforcement of Nav. Acts + Strict enforcement of Nav. Acts +

continued British presence = rev. continued British presence = rev. sentimentsentiment

– In RI angry residents board the British In RI angry residents board the British schooner Gaspee and set in on fireschooner Gaspee and set in on fire

accused sent back to England for a trialaccused sent back to England for a trial

– 1773 British East India Company had a 1773 British East India Company had a surplus of Tea, in response British surplus of Tea, in response British government passed the government passed the Tea Act (1773)Tea Act (1773)

gave BEI Company the right to export into the gave BEI Company the right to export into the colonies without having to pay the tax that colonies without having to pay the tax that colonial merchants had to paycolonial merchants had to pay

allowed BEI Company to gain a monopoly on allowed BEI Company to gain a monopoly on teatea

The Boston Tea Party Cont’dThe Boston Tea Party Cont’d– Many colonists responded by not buying Many colonists responded by not buying

tea: boycotttea: boycott– Women were instrumentalWomen were instrumental– Dec 16, 1773 in Boston Harbor Dec 16, 1773 in Boston Harbor – Bostonians refused to pay for the property Bostonians refused to pay for the property

they had destroyedthey had destroyed Coercive Acts 1774Coercive Acts 1774 (North) (North)

– Closed the port of BostonClosed the port of Boston– permitted royal officers to be tried in permitted royal officers to be tried in

other colonies or in England other colonies or in England – Colonist propaganda referred to these Colonist propaganda referred to these

acts as the “Intolerable Acts”acts as the “Intolerable Acts”

Quebec Act 1774Quebec Act 1774 (North) (North) – object was to provide a civil government object was to provide a civil government

for the French-speaking Roman Catholic for the French-speaking Roman Catholic inhabitants of Canada and the Illinois inhabitants of Canada and the Illinois countrycountry

– granted Political rights to Roman granted Political rights to Roman Catholics and recognized the legality of Catholics and recognized the legality of the Roman catholic Churchthe Roman catholic Church

– colonists believed that this meant the colonists believed that this meant the Pope and Holy Roman Empire would be Pope and Holy Roman Empire would be allowed to take over the New Worldallowed to take over the New World

Cooperation and WarCooperation and War The First Continental CongressThe First Continental Congress Sept. 1774, Carpenter’s Hall, Sept. 1774, Carpenter’s Hall,

PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Major Decisions:Major Decisions:

– plan for a colonial union under plan for a colonial union under British Authority British Authority

– statement of grievances statement of grievances – military preparation military preparation – boycottsboycotts

First Battles: First Battles: Lexington and Lexington and ConcordConcord

For months, farmers and For months, farmers and townspeople had been gathering townspeople had been gathering ammunitions and training as ammunitions and training as “minutemen”... preparing to fight “minutemen”... preparing to fight on a minutes noticeon a minutes notice

Why the Revolution Why the Revolution started: where historians started: where historians disagreedisagree

Brinkley (Greenville upset almost Brinkley (Greenville upset almost everyone) v. Zinn (“rich v. poor,” or everyone) v. Zinn (“rich v. poor,” or the elitist theory)the elitist theory)

BrinkleyBrinkley– common grievances to Grenville common grievances to Grenville

policies policies – Time of economic depressionTime of economic depression– Cities?Cities?– Conserve libertiesConserve liberties– EnlightenmentEnlightenment

ZinnZinn– Propaganda used by wealthy to deflect Propaganda used by wealthy to deflect

attention on Englandattention on England– Locke was a racist, an elitist, and supported Locke was a racist, an elitist, and supported

child laborchild labor– Jefferson owned slaves until the day he Jefferson owned slaves until the day he

died.died.– Language of Bible and D of I, were both Language of Bible and D of I, were both

used for propaganda purposes.used for propaganda purposes.– Financial move for the wealthy – Beard Financial move for the wealthy – Beard An An

Economic Interpretation of the Constitution Economic Interpretation of the Constitution