The USA 1740-1780 Flashcards
Trade between Britain and America in 1760
Mercantilism: belief that Empire should be self sufficient and rely on its colonies rather than foreign powers
- trade with colonies was defended against intrusion, from 1651 to 1673 trade and navigation acts were introduced to regulate trade
- stipulated that cargoes had to be transported by ships owned by colonists or Englishmen. Commodities had to be transported via England before reaching the colonies.
- Britain made profit by imposing customs duties. Molasses from the West Indies would be transported to Britain before exportation to America.
- These processes were clumsy and costly and resulted in smuggling. The impact of mercantilism was limited by lack of enforcement.
The Navigation Acts
Four main Acts to limit colonial manufacturing
- Molasses Act 1733: duties on sugar imports from foreign powers
- mercantilist system had benefits in fact, protected market in Britain and Empire
- Colonists shipbuilding industry profited from the exclusion of foreign ships, by 1760 1/3 of British ships were built in New England
The British + American economies were intricately linked by 1773
What were the main exports from the colonies and imports from Britain
Exports: Tobacco, bread, flour
Imports: Luxury items, clothing, books
War of Austrian Succession
War of Succession 1744-48
- During the war of Succession, the colonists had a major success after capturing a French Fortress. However, the British did not see it as a major success, and returned it to the French under the peace treaty 1748.COLONISTS FELT BETRAYED
Seven years war (build up + effects)
1756-63
The Albany congress held in JUNE 1754, 7 colonies were present however southern colonies were left out. It took place amongst fear of Native population. Proposed the colonists should secure an alliance with the Indians. The plan failed however, Benjamin Franklin drew up a scheme for inter-colonial confederation. The colonial assemblies rejected the Plan of Union. this may have caused bad feeling. Overall set stepping stones for future unity (it was first). Political cartoon ‘Join or die’ showed them as cut up snake.
Britain declared war in 1756, William Pitt the Elder sent additional 50,000 troops. 25,000 were colonial militia, 25,000 british. Working side by side.
peace of paris treaty
- Massachusetts provided most of the men but had less than half of its costs reimbursed.
- Huge land acquisition from Nova Scotia down the Ohio valley
- Militia men were appalled by behaviour of British army
- Gave training to men who would later become part of the revolution
- Expected access to the land in west beyond Appalachian mountains
- Colonists jealous of British treatment of natives
- Less dependant on British military protection
Overall, keeping the natives and colonies happy at the same time would be difficult, the war meant that their North American empire rested on fragile foundations
What did the colonists dream of?
Westward expansion
- by 1770, 400,000 settlers had spread across from established colonies
- ‘interest’ was important it meant voting rights
British government legislation towards the colonies
- Earl of Bute in February (PM) announced 10,000 British troops required to protect from Native attacks and the Americans should contribute to the expense
- In April 1763, Grenville becomes prime minister, main concern is dealing with national debt which had interest of £4.4 million at the time. Colonists were paying barely any taxation, he saw it as their fair share.
Pontiac’s rebellion
May 1763
Chief Pontiac feared further taking of land from white settlers (on what they deemed to be sacred earth).
- rose in revolt, killed and captured hundreds of settlers.
August
- The rebellion was suppressed by British soldiers paid for by Britain which confirmed the view in London that the colonies were unwilling or unable to provide their own defence
Proclamation line
In October Grenville introduced the proclamation line
- declared boundary
- British viewed it as a temporary measure to minimise the conflict, not to curb white expansion entirely, but to control it.
It angered colonies such as Virginia, which had claims in those lands.
- it did not spark serious discontent, as it was not strongly enforced. It was largely ignored by over 30,000 settlers and by 1768 Britain accepted it did not work.
Taxes and duties imposed in 1760s
- Grenville transferred legal hearings for customs to Nova Scotia, to prevent leniency of juries towards smugglers
The Sugar Act April 1764:
- reduced duties on foreign molasses. Designed to reduce smuggling and raise £78,000 per annum
- Massachusetts and rhode island put together committees to share information regarding act, first attempts at unity
The Currency Act 1764
- placed ban on use of paper money
- made it difficult to pay debts, but appealed to British merchants who wanted their debts paid in more acceptable currency like sterling.
Reactions to Grenville’s measures:
- angered many and rose suspicions,
- believed they shouldn’t be taxed without consenting
- largely merchants complied with sugar act
American views on relationship with Britain
- Saw themselves as British too
- Right to property, trial by jury and representation. These were set out by Magna Carta.
- John Locke’s Social contract: Life, liberty and property
Stamp Act
Proposed in August 1764, Passed by parliament in MARCH 1765 but not enacted in colonies until NOVEMBER 1ST
- required stamps on all kinds of documents eg newspapers, legal documents
- Most MPs believed they had the right to tax colonies so there was little opposition in parliament
Debates over it had begun long before it reached the colonies, when it was passed
- Patrick Henry (member of Virginia House of Burgesses) condemned it with the Virginia resolves in MAY 65. He presented this at in the Virginia House of Burgesses.
- Resolves that attacked the Stamp Act
- they were extremely radical even threatened resistance
- Set out idea of No taxation without representation and consent
- by the end of 1765 8 other assemblies had passed resolutions protesting the Stamp Act
- united them against the actions
- British felt they had virtual representation (a member of parliament who represented them)
Stamp Act Congress
- Massachusetts assembly suggested an intercolonial meeting
- Takes place in October in New York
- 9 colonies attend
- claimed it was the colonies’ duties to get them repealed
- Final product was the declaration of rights and grievances, raised 14 points of protest, asserted their possession of the ‘rights of Englishmen’
Economic response to Stamp Act
- Boycotts of British goods that wouldve damaged sales for traders in Britain
- From October 1765 Non-Importation associations, these stopped importation of British goods
Social response to Stamp Act
- Riots and protesting
- Destruction of Homes of tax collectors HUTCHINSON (governor)
- Made public effigies of tax collectors and used fear mongering to get them to resign
- Effigies of Oliver Bute (collector) hung from LIBERTY TREES
- Mob Action increased
- Formation of militias
Political response to Stamp Act
- Virginia resolves May 1765
- sent letters and delegates to parliament
- Stamp act congress, denounced stamp act
Why was the Stamp Act repealed
- Rockingham takes over as PM and it was repealed in March 1766
- British merchants campaigned for its repeal due to the boycotts
- The act required greater military force than was available to be enforced
What was the declaratory act?
Passed at the same time Stamp act repealed (march 1766)
- asserted that the colonies were subordinate to the crown and subject to their legislation
- purpose was to reassert their control
- Colonists saw it as acceptance that they could legislate but not tax them
Townshend duties
- 1765: Quartering Act, colonists had to support and house British soldiers
- 1767 New York Restraining Act: Ordered suspension of the New York assembly as it refused to comply with the Quartering Act of 1765
- 1767 Revenue Act: New duties on colonial goods including wine, glass, paint and tea. Included use of writs of assistance, gave more power to those enforcing taxation. Purpose was to fund British troops and pay salaries of royals stationed there
- 1767 Indemnity Act: Reduced duties on EIC Tea to make it more competitive in comparison to smuggled dutch tea
Colonial resistance to Townshend Duties
- Reaction was slower to build than the Stamp Act, merchants didn’t want another trade war, however resentment was soon widespread
Intellectual response to Townshend duties
- early 1768 Lawyer John Dickinson published ‘Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer’. Argued parliament couldn’t tax them without there consent. Also condemned the NY restraining act as a blow to Liberty
Political response to Townshend Duties
- In Massachusetts, Sam Adams and James Otis drafted a circular letter denouncing the Acts and appealing for common action that was sent out by the assembly in FEBRUARY 1768. 7 colonies endorsed it, Virginia’s house of burgesses sent its own out calling for joint measures.
Economic response to Townshend Duties
1768, Boston leads the way in non-importation agreements and boycotts. Every colony except New Hampshire had organised boycotts.
- mixed levels, many merchants opposed the boycotts. They had their warehouses broken into and goods damaged. They also faced being tarred and feathered
Consequences of townshend duties
- 10th June 1768, customs officials seize John Hancock’s (leading merchant in Boston) ship the liberty on suspicions of smuggling
- British government send troops to Boston to stamp out trouble.
- by October 4 regiments in Boston
- The boycott wasnt very effective, merchants didnt participate, began to fail and by 1771 was over
Lord North takes over as PM and in April repeals all duties except that on Tea
