Looking West Flashcards
Explain the significance of John Hawkins?
John Hawkins (1532–1595) was a pivotal figure in Elizabethan England, pioneering England’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade by transporting enslaved Africans to the Spanish Americas (1560s), which laid the groundwork for British colonial commerce. As a naval commander and treasurer, he modernized the Royal Navy, designing faster, more manoeuvrable ships that proved crucial in defeating the Spanish Armada (1588). His ventures, though morally contentious, expanded England’s maritime power and set the stage for its future imperial dominance.
Who was Sir john Hawkins?
Sailor and a privateer
-Made money from capturing african slaves from portuguese
-set up the west africa company
-helped develop the english navy
What is a monopoly license?
A royal licence which gave individuals the sole right to manufacture or sell a product.
Describe the development of the British slave trade:
-Britain dominated the transatlantic slave trade in 1672 as the Royal African company was granted a monopoly over supplying enslaved people from west africa to the carribean.
Between 1672 and 1689, over 100k slaves were shipped
-After the RAC lost its monopoly ,number of independent slave traders increased
–Overall the british trafficked nearly 3 million slaves
Economic impact of slavery:
-individuals and companies that participated in the slave trade became very wealthy
-People used that wealth to influence parliament and as well as to construct great buildings
-goods from the slave trade created jobs like trade and business e.g sugar and tobacco
-the economy of british cities like bristol and liverpool benefited from the slave trade
Which religious group moved to Barbados from Britain?
Quakers to avoid religious persecution
Social impacts of slavery:
-Raw materials and new goods changed way of lives for briton
-Slavery led to racial injustice against africans
-Caused divisions in society with the rise of the Abolitionist movement
-Large parts of West Africa were left economically and socially damaged by enslavement of people
-Africas population growth was halved in 1850
What were the main crops grown on plantations that used Slave Labour?
Sugar, Tobacco and Rice
What were reasons for migration to america?
-Unemployment was high in England.
- Land was expensive to buy in England.
- Failed harvests in England.
- America had vast lands.
- Travel to America cost less than land in England.
- Some wanted to escape religious conflicts across Europe
List three impacts that the British colonies had on Native Americans
- Intermarriage
- Raids and massacres killed many.
- European diseases killed many.
- Many Native Americans were displaced from their land.
- Forced to adapt to European customs
Who was walter raleigh?
Raleigh was an explorer, who voyaged to the Americas in the 1570’s,
returning with tales of his exciting adventures. He was able to do this due to
the developments in navigation at the time.
Raleigh was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth who granted him permission to
set up a colony- Virginia, in North America
Raleigh was a believer in expansion and developing an overseas empire. He
tried to set up colonies in Roanoke in 1584 which failed, as did another in
1587. However, in 1585 he established the colony of Virginia, named after
the Queen.-Brought the idea of conolialism
Record examples of each of the following factors affecting colonisation in North America
War
The lead up to the Civil War in 1641 led to many people migrating to America to escape the
violence and persecution.
Religion
Certain groups such as Puritans, Quakers and Catholics had suffered religious persecution
since the Reformation and some escaped this by migrating to America.
- Government
In 1606 King James gave businessmen permission to sail to Virginia in search of gold and land
for crop growth.
- Ideas
The idea of new land and new opportunities was a factor why many chose to migrate. For
religious groups, America also offered them the opportunity to living according to their own
religious beliefs.
- Individuals
People such as Walter Raleigh voyaged to America in the 1570’s, setting up colonies in the
1580’s.
- Economics
Unemployment in England was quite high and land was extremely expensive. Poor harvests
meant people were struggling for survival.
Explain the significance of British migration to America in the development of the British Empire?
The British migration to America in the 17th and 18th centuries was instrumental in expanding the British Empire, as settlements like Jamestown (1607) and Plymouth (1620) established economic footholds through tobacco, sugar, and trade. These colonies not only generated wealth for Britain but also served as strategic bases for further imperial expansion, while the displacement of Indigenous peoples and use of enslaved labour entrenched British dominance. The loss of the Thirteen Colonies after the American Revolution (1776–1783) forced Britain to refocus its imperial ambitions elsewhere, accelerating colonization in Canada, the Caribbean, and later Asia and Africa, shaping the empire’s global trajectory.
What was the Stamp Act of 1765
First attempt by the British government to directly tax the colonies
How much colonies in america did britain have?
13
Why did many colonists reject the tax
They demanded no taxation without representation in the british parliament
What was the boston tea party?
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest that took place on December 16, 1773, in Boston, Massachusetts. It was a significant event in the buildup to the American Revolution, showcasing the growing anger among American colonists toward British taxation policies and their lack of representation in Parliament. The protest involved American colonists, disguised as Mohawk Indians, who boarded British ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.
What was the Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a pivotal event in American history that occurred on March 5, 1770, in Boston, Massachusetts. It involved a confrontation between British soldiers and American colonists that escalated into violence, resulting in the deaths of five colonists. The incident became a powerful symbol of British oppression and fueled anti-British sentiment in the colonies, playing a significant role in the buildup to the American Revolution.
What was the name of the treaty that ended the War of Independence?
The Treaty of Paris in 1783
What happened to Britain after the loss of America as a colony
It began to be interested in India
Explain the significance of the American War of Independence to the British Empire.
The American War of Independence (1775–1783) marked a turning point for the British Empire, as the loss of the Thirteen Colonies—its most populous and economically valuable possessions—forced a dramatic revaluation of imperial strategy. The defeat exposed weaknesses in British military logistics and colonial governance, prompting reforms to avoid further rebellions, such as granting greater autonomy to Canada and later Australia. Economically, Britain shifted focus toward Asia (India) and Africa, accelerating the Second British Empire built on trade, naval dominance, and indirect control. Politically, the war fueled debates over liberty and representation, influencing later abolitionist and parliamentary reforms while demonstrating the limits of imperial coercion over distant settler colonies.
Which battle defeated the british
Battle of Yorktown 1781
Who are Huguenots
French Protestants who escaped france due to civil wars between 1560-90 who were facing persecution from the majority french catholics.
When did prosecution against Huguenots peak?
1572 when tens of thousands of Protestants were killed in the St Bartholomew’s day massacre
Where did the Huguenots migrate to
Protestant Britain
What happened in 1685 that affected Huguenot migration?
In 1685 the Edict of Nantes(a code establishing religious freedom) was revoked by King Louis XIV meant thousands of Huuenots left for England again.
What were the impacts of Huguenots on Britain
-Between 40-50k huguenots settled in England
-Lived in urban areas so had useful skills
-Successful in business,helped to set up the Bank of England in 1694
- Many assimilated
-Were skilled workers
What were the Ulster Plantations?
The Ulster Plantations were a colonization process undertaken by the English and Scottish in Ireland, primarily in the province of Ulster, during the early 17th century by King James VI & I. This large-scale settlement was part of a broader policy of plantations imposed by the English Crown to control Ireland and assert English dominance over the Irish population. It had significant and long-lasting effects on Ireland’s society, politics, and culture, particularly in Ulster.
Why did the Ulster Plantations happen?
Secure Control: Establish a loyal population in Ulster to prevent further rebellions.
Spread Protestantism: Replace the Catholic Gaelic Irish population with predominantly Protestant settlers from England and Scotland.
Economic Development: Develop agriculture, trade, and infrastructure using English practices.
What were the impacts of the Ulster Plantations
-Created a divided community in Ireland to this day
-Became part of the United Kingdom
-In 1622 1000 protestants compared to 4k catholics but now majority protestant
What were the Highland clearances?
The Highland Clearances were a series of forced evictions in the Scottish Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. Thousands of people were removed from their land to make way for large-scale sheep farming, which landowners found more profitable. This process had a profound impact on Highland society, leading to mass emigration, cultural loss, and significant changes in Scotland’s landscape and economy.
What role did the Duke of Sutherland play in the Highland Clearances?
The landowners, such as the Duke of Sutherland, played a significant role in the clearances. The Sutherland estate saw the removal of around 15,000 people between 1811 and 1820.
Impacts of highland clearances
-Highlands sparsely populated
-Mass scottish emigration to other British colonies
Evaluate the hugenots,ulster plantation and highland clearances on british expansion and empire
Huguenots: The influx of French Protestant refugees after the Edict of Fontainebleau (1685) bolstered Britain’s economy, particularly in textiles, banking, and skilled crafts, enhancing its industrial and mercantile capacity for imperial trade.
Ulster Plantation: The settlement of Scottish and English Protestants in Northern Ireland under James I displaced Gaelic Irish elites, cementing British control over Ireland and creating a loyal Protestant population that later fueled colonial ventures (e.g., Ulster-Scots migration to America).
Highland Clearances: The forced displacement of Scottish clans for sheep farming and emigration (often to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) dismantled traditional Gaelic society, supplying the empire with settlers and soldiers while expanding agrarian capitalism.
Together, these movements strengthened British demographic, economic, and territorial control, displacing indigenous or rival populations (Irish Gaels, Highland Scots) and integrating skilled or loyal groups (Huguenots, Ulster-Scots) into the imperial project. They also reinforced colonial migration patterns, ensuring British dominance in settler colonies and industrial supremacy.
