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