Unit 3: The Empire in Transition Flashcards
Major Generalization: The Empire in Transition (Pre-revolutionary America)
- Revolution not an isolated incident
- Independence move not continual or unanimous
- British justified in their actions
Tradition of Neglect: 1700-1760: Navigation Acts (Mercantile-based) 1660: Largely unenforced
a. All colonial trade to be carried in English ships (Master, 3/4 crew to be English)
b. Certain items (tobacco, sugar) shipped only to England and her possessions
c. All goods shipped from Europe to the colonies to pass through England
d. Provided for appt. of Customs Officials in the colonies for enforcement
England Begins to Lose Her Grip on Colonies
- Weak administrative authority in England
- Policy of Neglect (Walpole)
- Corrupt, inefficient officials in colonies
- Growing power of Colonial legislatures: “Power of the Purse”
Conflict between England and France spilled over to the Colonies
- W. Colonists defending themselves against French and Native American forces
- 1757: William Pitt brings war effort in colonies under British control
- Siege of Quebec ends American phase of war
1757: William Pitt brings war effort in colonies under British control
a. “Impressments” (forcible enlistment)
b. Seized supplies, equipment from locals
c. Colonists required to shelter British troops
Peace of Paris Ended the War: Terms and Consequences
- England acquired an empire
- North America to be English and Protestant, and French and Catholic
- North America would adopt the English political system
Effects of the French and Indian War in England
- Led to huge debt: how to pay?
- Resentment toward Americans for: “Lack of contribution”
- Resolve to enforce British Colonial Policy: Navigation Acts
Steps Taken to Tighten Colonial Policy
- Customs officials instructed to be stricter: letter of the law
- Colonial governors to assume responsibility for laxity
- New laws passed to better apprehend offenders
- Passage of a Revenue Act of raise revenue directly in the colonies
Effects of the French and Indian War on the Colonies
- Socializing Experience: forced colonists to unite against a common foe
- England’s actions confirmed the illegitimacy of English interference in “local” matters
Accession of George III in 1760 Changed the Course
- Rejected laissez-faire approach, determined to take active role in policy
- Suffered from intellectual and psychological limitations
George Grenville, new Prime Minister
- Colonists should contribute their fair share
- Imposed new system of control in colonial life
Proclamation Line of 1763: Forbid colonists to advance beyond a line drawn along the Appalachian Mts.
- Dictated that England, not colonies, control westward movement
- Reduce conflict with N/A tribes, thus saving the empire money
- Hoped to slow the exodus from the coastal colonies where England had more to gain
- Save land speculation opportunities and fur trade for English, not colonials
Grenville’s Policies
- Station British troops in the colonies
- Colonies to aid in maintaining the army
- British ship to patrol colonial water
- Customs enlarged, reorganized
- Restriction of colonial manufacturing
The Sugar Act of 1764: Purpose: Raised money to pay war debt
- Molasses Act duties halved, but enforced
- Vice-admirably courts to try offenders
The Currency Act of 1764
- Forbids issuing of paper money
- Led to shortage of money: barter
- Slipped colonies into recession
The Stamp Act, 1765: First Internal Tax on the colonies
- All papers to be taxed: 1 pence
- Modeled after the British Stamp Act
- Appointment of a Stamp Master
Colonial Objections to the Stamp Act
- England to obtain reavenue only by requisition
- Heavily in debted: could not afford the tax
- Currency Act mean that payment had to be in specie
- Objected to idea of “internal” tax without rep in Parliament
- Act offended: the powerful and vocal textiles merchant and lawyer
The Virginia Resolves, May 30, 1765 by radical group: Patrick Henry
- American entitled to all rights of Englishmen
- No taxation without direct representation
- Colonies to control internal affairs: taxes
- Colonies not bound to obey Parliament’s taxation demands
- Those denying these concepts were enemies
The Stamp Act Congress, October 1765, more moderate view
- Humble, loyal appeal to King, Parliament against “oppressive” tax
- Also maintained “No taxation without representation”
- Re-affirmed loyalty to the king, subordination to Parliament
- Asked Parliament deferentially to repeal the Act
Fall-Out from the Stamp Tax
- Appearance of anti-stamp tax riots
- “Son of Liberty” groups spring up
- Colonial boycotts
The Declaratory Act, March 1766
- Repealed the Stamp Act
- Confirmed Parliament’s power over the colonies “in all case whatsover”
- Resulted in renewed loyalty to Crown
Resulted in renewed loyalty to Crown
Goal: Economic relief: Not Independence
British Colonial Policy: Townshend Duties
A. Massachusetts and New York refuse to obey the Quartering Act
B. Passage of the Townshend Duties
C. Problems with the Revenue Act
D. Townshend Protests Represented 3 Major Types of pre-Rev. Protest
Passage of the Townshend Duties
- Tariff duties on glass, paper, and paint and tea
- 1st taxing of British imports in colonies
Problems with the Revenue Act
- Worked against marketing suplus British goods in the colonies
- Encouraged smuggling
- Stimulated domestic manufacturing
Townshend Protests Represented 3 Major Types of pre-Rev. Protest
- Economic protests: boycotts and domestic manufacturing
- Inflammatory communications
- Political protests
When the Boston Massacre happen?
March 5th, 1770
Results/Consequences of the Boston Massacre
- England withdrew troosp from Boston
- Event became a touchstone of colonial rebellion
- Emergence of Samuel Adams
- Appearance of the “Committees of Correspondence”
The Philosophy of Revolt
- English constitution not a written document
- Colonists drew from colonial charters
- British theory of virtual representation: Parliament represented entire empire
- Colonial theory of actual representation: Colonies to be represented by their own local representatives
Colonial Resentment Bubbles Over in the early 1770s
- Pamphlets, leaflets, tavern-talk
- Sinking of the Gaspe: 1772
- Tea boycotts due to the “Tea Act of 1773”
- Growing Role of Women in Protest Activities
Sinking of the Gaspe: 1772
a. British ship sunk by colonists
b. Accused sent to England for trial
Growing Role of Women in Protest Activities
a. Tea boycotters
b. Wrote dissident literature
c. Took part in anti-British demonstration
d. Daughter of Liberty
The Boston Tea Party
December 16th, 1773
The Coercive (Intolerable) Acts
- Banned trade in and out of Boston
- Reduced colonial self-government
- Provided for offender to be tried in England
- Quartering of British troops
Virginia came to Massachusetts aid by calling for
A Congress of all colonies
Meeting of the 1st Continental Congress, Sept 1774 (all but Georgia)
- Declaration of Grievances
- Approved military preparation
- Non-importation, non-exportation, non-consumption of English good
- Future meeting plans designated this “congress” as a continuing body organization
Lexington and Concord
April 1775
