Drivers of Imperial Expansion Flashcards
Crown and Government
North America - There was some support from the Crown and Government in Imperial projects, mainly toward the beginning of the period, however these were not done with expansion and establishment of Empire in mind, instead were self serving, following this there was a lack of interest from the Crown and Government in terms of expansion in North America
- Privateers
- Colonisation of Roanoke failed due to lack of government support
- No Imperial policy under Queen Elizabeth
- James I charter to Virgina Company, banned tobacco growing in England 1619
- Companies gave early Stewarts easy access to cash
Caribbean - More support than in North America, especially toward the middle of the period, however this was primarily for economic reasons rather than imperial expansion
- Charles I gave charters, St Kitts (1624) Barbados (1627)
- Cromwell, Western Design, first Navigation Act, took Jamaica 1655
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The East - Initial support present, however development in the East occurred largely independent of the Crown, more attributed to companies and individuals
- Charter to East India Company 160
- Trade with the East beginning toward the beginning of the period, returns from Drake’s circumnavigation were invested in the Levant Company
- Cromwell made the EIC a joint stock company
The importance of key individuals
North America
Francis Drake
- 1570, 1571 Drake made two profitable trading voyages to West Indies
- 1572, he commanded two vessels against Spanish ports in the Caribbean
- First Englishman to navigate the Straits of Magellan
- Circumnavigation, 4700% return for investors
Walter Raleigh
- 1578, sailed to America with Humphrey Gilbert, may have stimulated his interest in starting a colony there
- 1585, sponsored the first English colony in America on Roanoke Island, colony failed and another attempt at colonisation also failed in 1587
- Has been credited with bringing potatoes and tobacco back to Britain
- Led two unsuccessful missions to El Dorado, second in 1616, where he defied the King’s instructions and attacked the Spanish leading to him getting the death penalty, being executed 1618
Martin Frobisher
- Commissioned to cross the Atlantic in search of the Northwest passage in 1560-1
- Motivated by the chance of riches in China
- Frobisher voyages yielded nothing but a hoard of iron pyrites from Greenland
Hawkins
- 1579, had been appointed ‘Treasurer of the Navy’, which enabled him to have a decisive voice in developing a naval construction programme
- Drew up a fleet of royal and private ships to seize the Spanish treasure fleet
- Evolved small streamlined vessels that were much more seaworthy, easier to handle and were able tot stay at sea for longer periods
- Constructed larger vessels with long range guns and modified many older ships
East
Clive
- 18 years old, became a clerk in the EIC in Madras
- 1746, escaped to Fort George when French captured Madras, here he joined the EIC private army
- Reputation for courage and skill and courage in battle, was given command of an expedition to seize Arcot, the capital of the Carnatic and hold it, with a force of 200 Europeans and 300 native soldiers, Clive took the central fort and proceeded to hold it against all odds
- For 50 days he inspired his men to hold the citadel until a final desperate assault spearheaded by elephants was driven off and the enemy withdrew
- Prime Minister Pitt pronounced him a “heaven-born” general
- Returned to India after three years in England in the middle of a crisis, where Calcutta had been captured by the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daula after the British refused to destroy their new fortification there
- The Nawab created the Black Hole of Calcutta, an 18 square foot hole that held 146 captured Britons, 23 of them survived
- Cliave quickly re-took the city and then inflicted a decisive defeat on Siraj ud Daula at the Battle of Plassey, Clive’s army of 3000 men with just 650 British, routed the Nawab’s 68,000 strong French-backed army
- New Nawab was incredibly grateful to Clive and allowed Britain to easily expand their influence, Plassey also practically removed serious opposition to British rule in India
Imperial priorities
Go by key Monarchs
Elizabeth I -
Contribution of domestic developments to empire
Religious
North America
- 1598, Hakluyt claimed that it was the Protestant duty to expand Empire
- 1620, Plymouth was a haven for Puritans
- 1634, Maryland was a haven for Catholics
- 1636, Rhode Island practiced religious tolerance
- 1639, Connecticut dominated by Congressionalists
Glorious Revolution
- Contributed to rebellions: New York, Boston, Bacon
- Eased tensions with the Dutch
Civil War
- Meant that focus remained domestic
Oliver Cromwell
- Western Design
Restoration
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Civil War and interregnum
Civil War
Glorious Revolution
Oliver Cromwell
Restoration/ Charles II
See card on domestic developments
Financial and economic developments
Mercantilist Policies
North America
- Crown gave charters to companies as a way to acquire wealth
- Banks offered money to invest in companies and enterprise
- Policies became more important after the Glorious Revolution to protect British trade and shipping, tax goods coming into British ports and offer favourable terms to goods coming into the colonies
- Emphasis placed on natural growth in order to achieve national strength
- Establishment of the Bank of England
Caribbean
- Navigation Acts, only English ships could facilitate trade with the colonies
- 1740, GB exported £1 million worth of goods and imported £1.8 million
Trade
- Hudson Bay Company were given monopoly over fur trade in Rupert’s land
- 18th century, GB imported raw materials from NA and then processed them to sell back to colonists
- 18th century, became more of a market for GB exports, 1740 GB exported £2 million, imports from NA were £0.6 million
Caribbean
- Early settlers grew tobacco and used indentured labour
- At first, early colonies depended on Dutch ships for slaves and to move the sugar
- After Treaty of Utrecht (1713), two power standard was established and GB were given assieto for slave trade (4800 per year), but Spain would only allow one ship per year to trade normal commodities with its colonies
- Spain also prevented many British ships from trading in its zones of influence
India
- By end of 16th century, GB and Dutch began to challenge Portuguese control of trade with Asia
- Atlantic first, traded Indian pepper by the mid-17th century, textiles began to dominate
- Glorious Revolution led to Dutch and GB agreeing to split trade, Dutch controlled spice trade, GB controlled textiles, by 1720 GB sales had overtaken the Dutch
Slave Trade
Caribbean
- RAC collapsed in 1752 and stopped transporting slaves in 1731, independent slave traders dominated
- 18th century, GB became dominant country in the slave trade due to sugar and navy, GB fought wars to protect this investment, invested in irregulars
- Mid-18th century, 70,000 slaves per years taken to the West, half on British ships
Political Developments
Mercantilist Policies
North America
- Crown gave charters to companies as a way to acquire wealth
- Banks offered money to invest in companies and enterprise
- Policies became more important after the Glorious Revolution to protect British trade and shipping, tax goods coming into British ports and offer favourable terms to goods coming into the colonies
- Emphasis placed on natural growth in order to achieve national strength
- Establishment of the Bank of England
Caribbean
- Navigation Acts, only English ships could facilitate trade with the colonies
- 1740, GB exported £1 million worth of goods and imported £1.8 million
Western Design
Navigation Acts
1651 - Aimed at the Dutch, then England’s greatest commercial rivals, distinguished between goods imported from European countries (which could be brought in either English ships or ships of the country of origin) and goods brought from Asia, Africa or America (which could travel to England, Ireland, or any English colony only in ships from England or the particular colony), various fish imports and exports were entirely reserved to English shipping, as was the English coastal trade
1660 - Practice introduced of ‘enumerating’ certain colonial products, which could be shipped directly only to England, Ireland or another English colony, these included sugar (until 1739), indigo and tobacco, rice and molasses were added during the 18th century, non-enumerated goods could go in English ships from English colonies directly to foreign ports
1663 (Staple Act) - Stated that all Colonial exports had to be transported in English, or colonial, ships and that all colonial imports had to first pass through English ports, whether the goods were for England or another country in Europe, goods were then to be inspected and taxed, this meant that English colonies could only receive European goods via England
- Scotland was treated as a foreign country until the Act of Union (1707) gave it equal privileges with England, Ireland was excluded from the benefits of the laws between 1670 and 1779
- There were further Navigation Acts in 1673, 1696 and 1773 which were designed to close more trade loopholes, increase the list of goods and commodities, increase the duties on the goods and ensure that the laws were properly enforced
Dominion of New England
Lords of Trade
Development of Royal Navy
North America
- Hawkins naval developments
Caribbean
- Hawkins naval developments
- Strong navy protected the slave trade
The East
- After Wars of Austrian Succession, strength of the navy began to show and put the French at a disadvantage
- GB maintained two power standard
Changes in bureaucracy and administration
lords of trade?
dominion of new england
slave code
employing more white workers
political control over india
Scientific revolution and enlightenment
North America
Enlightenment: Europeans were fascinated by finding out about people in their “natural state” ie. Native Americans, they often held the belief that Europeans were the more advanced societies and therefore had a right to colonise and build their Empire
Scientific discovery: 1714, the government offered rewards and grants to anyone who could solve navigational issues at sea - Harrison produced the first chronometer which measured longitude for the first time in 1761, helped discover new lands
Caribbean
Enlightenment: discussions often took place in coffee and tea houses
The East
Enlightenment: Europeans wanted to find out more about Indian culture and language
Companies
North America
- 1606, Virgina Company, established first successful colony
- CHECK YEAR, Massachusetts Bay Company
- 1670, Hudson Bay Company, established forts and trading posts, led to conflict with New France
Caribbean
- 1672, Royal Africa Company set up by Charles II, however lost its monopoly in 1698
- 1711, South Sea Company given monopoly to trade with South America and the Caribbean, caused people to lose a lot of money as following Treaty of Utrecht?? the slave trade was not as profitable was initially hoped
The East
- East India Company 1600
- 1605 began trading in Surat
- 1623 Amboyna Massacre
- 1630s trade slumped due to famine and rights given to Courteen family
- 1690 Calcutta was responsible for Bengal textiles, which made up 40% of EIC’s exports to GB
- Trade with China occurred through the EIC, traded porcelain, silks and opium
