British American Colonies Flashcards
how did the colonial assemblies view themselves?
equal to the House of Commons.
felt they could use their authority over finance to control royal governors.
they voted in taxes that paid the governor’s taxes, felt the governor should let them have their own way.
what was the pressure like compared to the sugar islands?
it was less intense since on the islands, British garrisons and the navy was visible.
life for the governor in mainland America grew harder the longer peace with France continued.
what was the difference between 17th century and 18th century governors?
17th century- tended to be military men with a sense of authority
18th century- gentlemen with good connections in London
what word fits the colonial policy of Britain in the first half of the 18th century?
Neglect
what had been dying over legislation in Britain?
the royal veto, however at this time it was still active in the colonies.
they tended to no legislate on issues that were seen as internal in the colonies, however they did keep the Navigation Acts up to date.
stats about American population:
-beginning of the 18th century it was about 1/4 million
-rose to 2 million by 1776
-just under half the population were white immigrants (settlers and indentured labourers)
-population was becoming less English, large number of Ulstermen, Scots and Germans
how did the colonists begin to develop industry?
they ran several of their own newspapers.
1699, they were forbidden to spin woollens for export (even to another colony), 1750 the Iron Act allowed them to smelt iron ore into pig iron but no further.
this worried the British government
what did the British feel entitled to do?
because they felt they were paying enough for defence, they felt entitled to impose a unified industrial policy
what did North America become for manufacturers?
a market part of a triangle of trade that financed British imports from the West Indies
stats about exports and imports:
-1740, Britain exported about £700k to NA and the West.
-20 years later, the West took £1 million.
-mainland America took about £2 million worth of British exports
-imports fro the West were £1.8 million and the mainland £600k
what was the intention behind setting up the colony of Georgia?
in 1732, Georgia became Britain’s 13th colony.
intended to be a place where people released from debtors’ jail could have a fresh start, very few debtors actually went there.
a charitable trust funded the colony, encouraging the settlers, it funded the colony for 20 years.
became a royal colony in 1752
why did the settlers become dissatisfied?
they argued that they were not allowed to grow certain crops bu the main reason was that they wanted to be able to own slaves
how much did defence of the mainland cost?
£20,000
