His 121 chapter 4 the imperial perspective

Chapter 4

The Imperial Perspective

Mercantilism

Enforcing the Navigation Acts

The Dominion of New England

An Emerging Colonial System

Salutory Neglect

English Administration of the Colonies

Monarchy was the legal authority in the colonies.

All colonies except Georgia received their charters before the Glorious Revolution of 1688 when the crown lost supremacy to parliament.

Colonies continued as “dependencies of the Crown.”

Appointed officials served at the “pleasure of the King.”

During the English Civil War the Dutch became the dominant shipping power in the North American Colonies and Caribbean.

1561 Parliament adopts the Navigation Act All goods imported to England or colonies carried on English ships

with majority English crews.

Royal Control of the Colonies

Assumed that the total of world’s gold and silver remained the same and only a nation’s share of that wealth was subject to change.

The only way to gain was to take another country’s gold and silver. Essential: maintain a favorable balance of trade by controlling every aspect

of exports and imports. Colonies were a source of raw materials and markets for goods

Navigation Act of 1660 Ships crews had to be ¾ English Products to be shipped only to England

Tobacco Rice Hemp Masts Copper Ore furs

More Mercantilism

All colonial imports from Europe had to stop in England, offload and duty paid before shipment to colonies.

England had monopoly to sell Tobacco and Sugar produced in Chesapeake colonies and West Indies .

All colonial commerce channeled through English merchants

All ships built had to be sold to English buyers

Increased customs and duties on good shipped through England (everything).

Navigation Act of 1663

During English Civil War, very little enforcement and colonies ignored the navigation acts.

1675 Charles II designates “Lords of Trade” to force colonies to abide by Navigation Acts.

Lords of Trade named Colonial Governors.

Wrote/reviewed governors instructions and handled all correspondence dealing with colonial affairs.

Edward Randolph Arrived in Boston in 1676 Demanded Massachusetts abide by Navigation Acts 1678 Massachusetts legislature declares that Navigation Acts had

no legal standing in the Massachusetts Bay Colony

1684 Lords of Trade annul the charter of Massachusetts Bay Colony

Enforcement of Navigation Acts

1685 James II creates “Dominion of New England” includes all colonies from New England south to New Jersey

Dominion government named by royal authority Governor & council but no assembly Sir Edmund Andros 1686 in Massachusetts and by 1688 included

New York and New Jersey under the Dominion In Massachusetts, Andros enforced Navigation Acts, punished

smugglers and suppressed town hall government. Adros and his lieutenants took over a Puritan Church for Anglican

worship

Glorious Revolution When news reached Boston that Mary Stuart and William of Orange

had assumed the throne as joint monarchs and James II had fled to England, the colonists arrested Andros

James II increases enforcement

James II by Peter Lelly

Sir Edmund AndrosEngraving by unknown Author.

1689 Boston Revolt by William A. Crafts, 1876

William of Orange and Mary Stuart

Act to Prevent Frauds and Abuses and the Board of Trade 1696 Act to Prevent Frauds and Abuses

Writs of Assistance: general search warrants that did not have to specify the place to

be searched Violators (smugglers) tried in Admiralty Courts which did not

permit trial by jury

1696 Board of Trade Investigate enforcement of Navigation Acts

1696-1725 vigorous enforcement

1714-1760 Hanoverian Kings George I and George II less interested in the colonies and allowed their councils to control administration of the colonies.

Robert Walpole, First Minister from 1721-1742 deliberately followed a liberal policy of allowing the colonies to pursue their economic interests

Salutary Neglect

Evolution of Government within American ColoniesEvolved without planningAll colonies except Georgia were founded by trading companies or

feudal proprietors who held charters from the Crown.Over time 8 of these relinquished corporate/ proprietor charters and

reverted to the CrownRoyal colonies had governors appointed by CrownProprietary colonies had governors appointed by the proprietorConnecticut and Rhode Island retained corporate charters and

elected own governorsIn corporate and proprietary colonies and in Massachusetts, the

Colonial charter acted as a ConstitutionEnglish government tradition of enacting Constitutions

Magna CartaEnglish Bill of Rights

The Habit of Self-Government

America, 8th EditionCopyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company

The Boston State House

Powers of Colonial Governors

Absolute veto over assemblies and Crown could also veto laws passed by colonial assemblies.

Colonial GovernorAppoint and remove officialsCommand the militiasGrant pardonsColonial patronage

Powers of Colonial AssembliesElected by Colonists

Voting RestrictionsProperty ownership (low threshold)Excluded women, Indians, SlavesA greater population of the colonies could vote than anywhere else in

the world.

The Habit of Self Government

Two important strands of powerControlled the budget by right to vote on taxes and expendituresPower to initiate legislation

Once established, these powers became fixed in the minds of the colonists as a right—not a habit or a privilege

Powers of Colonial Self -Governing Assemblies

Spanish Colonies in North America

New France

Troubled Neighbors

Spanish Colonies in North America did not become prosperous

No precious mineralsFocused mainly on searching for gold and converting Native

Americans not on sustainable communities

Spanish America in Decline

Centered in CanadaFocused on trading postsFocused on converting Native AmericansFrench settlers—mostly men, married Native American women and adopted Native

American customsDid not focus on creating sustainable settlementsFrench alliances with Native Americans intended in part to counteract British power in

North AmericaSamuel de Champlain’s alliance with the Hurons and Algonquin angered Iroquois who

became allies of the British.Champlain’s charter from Louis XIV limited settlers in New France to Roman Catholics.French exploration of Mississippi River led to founding of New Orleans in 1718.

By 1732 the population of New Orleans was 2,000 white settlers and 3,800 slaves.

New Orleans was a financial burden to French government.

New France

America, 8th EditionCopyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company

Champlain in New France

The French in North America

America, 8th EditionCopyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company

Colonial WarsJames I and Charles I pursued good relations with Louis XIV.

William III a committed Calvinist, did not.

William III & other kingdoms in Europe: Balance of Power policyto check the rising power of France in Europe and around the world.

Balance of Power foreign policy resulted in several wars in Europe.

King William’s War (1689–1697)

Queen Anne’s War (1702–1713)

King George’s War (1744–1748)

These wars had little effect on England’s North American colonies initially

English government incurred huge debt

Last Colonial War between France and Britain was the 7 Years War/French & Indian War (1754-1763)

Fought primarily in North America but spread around the world

Nationalism in Britain and the American Colonies

The French and Indian War (1754-1763)

Colonial Incursion

1758

"Were there nothing at stake between the crown of Great Britain and France but the Lands of the Ohio, we may reckon it as a great Prize as has ever been contended for between two Nations. For this Country is of that vast Extent Westward as to exceed in good Land all the European Dominions of Great Britain, France, and Spain, which are almost destitute of Inhabitants. It is impossible to conceive that had his Majesty been made Acquainted with its value and great importance, the large strides the French have been making for several Years past in their encroachments  on his Dominions that his Majesty would sacrifice one of the best Gems in his Crown to their Usurpation and Boundless Ambition"

The Ohio CompanyThe Ohio Company was a land speculation firm organized by Virginians including Thomas Lee (great uncle of Lighthorse Harry Lee) and George Washington’s two half brothers, Lawrence Washington and Augustine Washington, Jr.)

The King (George II) had given the principals a land Grant of 200,000 acres in Ohio Country (generally the same area as present day Ohio)

Purpose was to encourage settlement (and land purchases) and trade with the Indians. Ohio Company had 7 years in which to settle 100 families and create a buffer between the French and the British colony of Virginia.

Loyal Land Company (a rival company) also granted land by King George in the same area. The principals in this firm included Peter Jefferson (father of Thomas Jefferson)

Both the British and the French claimed the Ohio Country but neither had created forts or settlements there.

Lawrence Washington, 1718 Mount Vernon Thomas Lee, 1747

Competing FortsBy 1753, the French had constructed 3 forts and had expelled British traders from the area.

Iroquois Indians were also angered by the French forts.

Virginia Governor Robert Dinwiddie (an investor in the Ohio Company) ordered Major George Washington (brother of two principals in the Ohio Company) to warn the French to leave “Virginia Territory.” Major Washington was 21.

Washington reached Fort le Bouef in December, 1753 and General Jaques La Pierre refused Washington’s claim to British ownership of the territory.

Dinwiddie sent a company of 40 men with William Trent (another Ohio Company principal) to construct a fort in January, 1754.

Trent was ousted by the French

Spring 1754: Washington led 150 Colonial militia and Iroquois to build a fort at the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers (Pittsburgh).

Before Washington’s arrival, he learns that the French have already completed Fort Duquesne at the same site.

Washington makes camp 40 miles away to await reinforcements.

French send soldiers under command of Joseph Colon de Jumonville to negotiate with Washington

Washington, informed by Mingo Indians that French were coming, ambushes the force with help of Iroquois.

De Jumonville is killed (reportedly by having his head split open by a tomahawk)

Some of the French captives were reportedly scalped.One French soldier escaped to report the incident to the Fort.

Washington retreats to Great Meadows and constructs Fort Necessity.

French attacked Fort Necessity on July 3, 1754 and Washington surrendered after one day.All Colonial horses killed1/3 of Washington’s forces killed

French took the weapons and permit Washington to retreat

Battle of Jumonville Glen: May 28, 1754

George Washington, 1772 Charles Wilson PealeThis is the first authenticated portrait of George Washington.He is dressed in the uniform of the Virginia Militia.

Albany Congress (June 19-July 10, 1754)

Meeting of Colonial Commissioners from Maine to Maryland

Representative chiefs from the Iroquois Confederation

Plan of Union Drafted by Benjamin FranklinAdopted by unanimous vote of the commissioners

Chief Executive/Supreme Governor called “President-General of the United Colonies”

Supreme Assembly called “Grand Council” with 48 members chosen by colonial assembliesOversee defenseIndian relationsTrade and settlement in the WestLevy taxes to support its programs

British accepted only Supreme Colonial Commander and suggestion to appoint a New Yorker as a commissioner for Indian affairs.

General Edward Braddock and two English Divisions along with Colonial militia and George Washington as a staff officer.

125 mile wilderness roadHauled heavy artillery to surround French fortAmbushed 6 miles from Fort Duquesne

Braddock mortally woundedWashington led retreat of 500 militia to Virginia900 British and Colonial soldiers died

Washington letter to his brother British army “scandalously beaten by a trifling body of men.” The

Redcoats “broke and run as sheep before hounds.” The Virginians, “behaved like Men and died like Soldiers.”

Braddock Expedition

1754-1756 War limited to North America

1756 war spread to Europe: 7 Years WarFrance, Austria, Russia, Saxony, Sweden, SpainBritain, Prussia and Hanover

William Pitt British Primer Minister (“I know I can save England and no one else can!”)Confine 7 Years War to North AmericaMobilized 45,000 troops in North America (1/2 British & ½

colonists)Treated the colonies as allies & gave subsidies for participationUsed British Navy to cut off French supply routes to North America3-pronged land offensive to defend French invasion routes

Niagara River, Lake Champlain and St. Lawrence RiverBattle of Quebec

A World War

1763Britain:

all French possessions east of the Mississippi River except New Orleans

All of Spanish Florida

Native American angerFrench gave Native American lands to BritainPontiac’s Rebellion

Native Americans attacked British (formerly French) forts in the Ohio River Valley and Colonial settlements on the frontier.

Fort Duquesne changed to Fort Pitt—Americans allegedly distribute blankets infested with smallpox to Native Americans causing a smallpox epidemic

Spain New Orleans and French territory West of the Mississippi River

The Peace of Paris