Transcript Chapter 4

Empire in Transition
New Government Policies
• Since most Governors of English colonies were
never permanent, most focus shifted towards
local politics.
– Provincial governments acted fairly independent of
parliament.
• Following the Glorious Revolution Parliament held
more control than ever, and made little effort to
tighten control of colonial activity
• However, most colonists still felt loyal to Britain
and considered themselves English subjects.
Albany Plan
• Religious and commercial tensions between the
French and British began to spill into colonial
America.
• Upon problems with the French and their Iroquois
allies, Colonial leaders held a conference in
Albany.
• Ben Franklin was the first to suggest a colonial
“parliament” that would oversee interests and
protection for all colonies with consent of
Parliament.
– Albany Plan was drafted and given to each colony for
approval.
French Influence in the Colonies
• French fur trade drew larger numbers of Immigrants
further into interior
• Jesuit priests followed to find converts
• Louis XIV used the opportunity to gain national
unity and global interests
• Funded excursions further south and eventually
reached what is today Louisiana
– Jacques Marquette & Louis Joliet – Green Bay to junction
of Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers
– Sieur de La Salle – further south to the delta of the
Mississippi River
French and Indian War
• Both English and French needed native allies to
gain control of the continent
– English commerce offered better and more goods
– French were much more tolerant
• The most powerful group was Iroquois tribes who
generally stayed independent and played the two
off of each other
• Following a series of French-English conflicts the
Iroquois granted concessions to the English
– The French saw this as a threat.
French and Indian War Cont.
• Summer of 1754, Virginia governor sent
detachment under George Washington to
challenge French influence.
– Built an outpost near the French Fort Duquesne
(modern day Pittsburgh) and called it “Fort Necessity”
• After a failed attack by Washington the French
responded
– Trapped him and his men inside and killed 1/3 of them
and Washington surrendered.
• This began French and Indian War
Seven Years War
• Initially fighting primarily between colonists and
French with little help from British.
– English Maj. General Braddock led a failed attempt to
regain control by Fort Duquesne in summer 1755.
– Following the battle he was killed by French and Indian
ambush, beginning the larger European conflict called
the Seven Years War.
• With more important war at stake William Pitt
asserted British authority and upset colonists.
– Forced colonial participation in military and made
colonists provide shelter for British troops.
– Colonial resistance grew bitter, riots in New York City
British Victory
• Realizing the need for colonial support, Pitt
relaxed measures and regained militias.
• French were outnumbered, and poor harvests
left them ill-equipped.
– British seized control of Louisbourg and Dusquense
– Siege at Quebec led to British control of largest French
holding.
• Brutality
– Relocating French subjects from Nova Scotia
throughout English colonies ( Cajun ancestors)
– Scalp bounties on French allies
– French attacks on British colonists on frontiers.
End of French-Indian War
• William III gained British throne and signed Peace
of Paris with French in 1763 against Pitt’s wishes.
– In the peace Britain gained West Indies, French colonies
in India, Canada, and French colonies east of Mississippi
except New Orleans
– New Orleans and Western territories were given to
Spain
• War resulted in extreme debt and resentment
toward colonial problems during the war.
• Colonials gained military experience and
passionate distaste for British regulars and policies.
Problems with Empire
• With considerable more territory to control the
British had to consider new problems.
– Rapid settlement of new land could cause more
conflict with natives
– Should the new territories be controlled by nearby
colonies, or considered open to new colonies
themselves
– How should British pay to protect these new claims.
• Since colonies refused to voluntarily pay more
taxes to support this expansion, Parliament in
London was forced to impose taxes to meet needs
King George III
• Obtained the Throne at a young age
• Was determined to prove that he was capable and
therefore took a more active role in policy making
– Upset both Parliament and Colonies
– Rare disease that impaired judgment, but won’t be
obvious until later in life.
• He appoints George Grenville as Prime Minister
– Grenville is not as sympathetic to colonist beliefs and
unwilling to compromise like Pitt had.
– Immediately imposes new system to collect taxes from
colonists.
Proclamation of 1763
Proclamation of 1763
• Settlers began moving westward at a high rate
following the war
– This upset tribes within the regions and they formed
an alliance under the Ottawa Chief Pontiac
• To protect settlers and their interests the British
issued a ruling
– Proclaimed a boundary along the Appalachian Mts.
That couldn’t be crossed by settlers
– This allowed London, not colonial governments to
control westward expansion
– Proclamation never fully worked.
Grenville Imposes Authority
• Grenville imposed a series of legislation intended
to collect taxes and pay British debts and subdue
colonial resistence
• Mutiny Act 1765 – force colonists to assist in
provisioning and maintaining an army. Increased
size of Customs service
• Sugar Act 1764 – eliminate illegal sugar trade by
enforcing duty on sugar strictly, drove up price of
sugar and down price of molasses
Grenville’s Authority Cont.
• Currency Act 1764 – forbid colonists from
printing their own paper currency and
restricted the amount available.
• Stamp Act 1765 – perhaps the most
momentous of all
– Imposed a tax on all printed documents in the
colonies: newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets,
deeds, wills, licenses…..
– Drove up the prices of everyday products
Colonial Response
• Even though colonists resented measures, they
were still too divided to resist.
• The Paxton Boys – group of western Pennsylvania
farmers who attacked Philadelphia for relief from
COLONIAL taxes and wanted help with Indian
problems after French and Indian war.
• Regulator Movement – North Carolina farmers
who wanted tax relief and representation in
legislature. When grievances weren’t met they
fought. Came to a head at the Battle of Alamance
– 9 killed and 6 Regulators hanged for treason
Impact of British Measures
• Wartime production had created economic boom
during the war, but when production dropped a
major bust occurred in Colonial economy.
– Grenville’s new taxes compounded the problem and
made colonists fear the British would cripple their
economy.
• Stamp Act in particular bothered Colonists
– Economic impact was widespread from lawyers to
merchants and tavern owners, yet relatively
inexpensive
– Precedent was the problem, British could pass laws
like it without any Colonial representation.
Colonial Resistance
• Virginia Resolves – developed as a result of fiery
speech in the House of Burgesses by Patrick Henry
– Proposed colonists only pay taxes imposed by colonial
governments
• Stamp Act Congress 1765 – met in New York and 9
colonies were represented, officially petitioned
the king and asserted many of the ideas of the
Virginia Resolves
• Sons of Liberty – radical group based in Boston
that began taking the law into their own hands
and harassing customs officials and opposing laws
Tar and Feathering
Townshend Acts
• After a repeal of the Stamp Acts, colonists
celebrated a “victory”, short lived due to the
Declaratory Act that gave Parliament complete
control
• Quartering Act o1765 – made it mandatory for
colonists to shelter and supply British troops
– Many already did this, but resented the “mandatory”
• When New York assembly officially opposed
them, new Parliament leader Charles Townshend
disbanded the assembly and imposed new taxes
on other goods.
Boston Massacre
Boston Massacre
• Colonists effectively boycott these acts
– Primarily out of coercion by the Sons of Liberty
– Led to multiple incidents between colonists and
troops
• Boston Massacre: March 5, 1770
– Colonists taunted and assaulted troops at Boston
Harbor
– Eventually troops opened fire and killed 5 unarmed
colonists.
The Gaspee Incident
• Colonists from Rhode Island stormed a British
merchant ship and sank it in the Narragansett Bay.
• Instead of holding the attackers on trial and
prosecuting them, British authorities had them
sent back to England for trial.
– Clear violation of their rights as British subjects.
Tea Act
• In order to save the British East India Tea company
from bankruptcy, the government passed the Tea
Act of 1773.
– The company had the ability to ship their product
straight to Colonies without paying a duty.
• Was more of a matter of principle than economics
– Merchants once again feared a precedent was set
where Parliament could pass laws supporting British
companies.
– Representation was again a problem.
Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party
• Group of members of the Sons of Liberty
dressed as Mohawk Indians and boarded
British supply ship and dumped tea into the
harbor.
• Was a symbolic gesture of Colonial resistance
to laws.
• When the people of Boston refused to pay for
damages the British became angry.
Coercive Acts/ Intolerable Acts
• Passed intentionally aimed at the people of
Massachusetts
– Closed Boston Harbor
– Reduced colonial government
– Permitted Royal officials to be tried in England and
elsewhere when accused of a crime
– Required quartering of troops
The First Continental Congress
• 55 delegates from 12 colonies were convened in
Philadelphia at Carpenter’s Hall
• Decisions Made:
– Sent a statement of respectful grievances to London
– Approved set of Preparations for British response,
including provisions for military in Boston
– Formed “Constitutional Association” to support
boycott of British goods until acts were repealed
– Agreed to meet again in the Spring
The Shot Heard Round the World
• Colonists kept stolen gun powder and
ammunition in garrisons around Massachusetts.
– British intentions to reclaim the goods
• One if by land, Two if by sea
– Paul Revere made his famous ride to warn the
minutemen that British would be there by morning.
• Lexington and Concord
– Minutemen first met British regulars on the Green in
Lexington and the first shots were exchanged on the
way to Concord.
– Unconventional victory for the Colonists