Focus Question

Evaluate the influence of the French presence in North America on developments in the relationship between Britain and the thirteen colonies before 1764.

French Motivations and the New World

Late bloomer in conquest of New World 1608– settled in Quebec- St. Lawrence

river Samuel de Champlain- “Father of New

France” Relationship with Indians (Iroquois)

Government of New France-- Population in New France by 1750----

France in the New World

New France spreads out---Fur tradeFrench influence in Midwest:Drawbacks of fur trade---Protection against Spain’s

forts- MS. & LA. Territories (most important- New Orleans)

Key Groups/People

Jesuits—

Antoine Cadillac---

Robert de La Salle

Forts- New Orleans (1718)

French Jesuits (Catholic missionaries)

The Deerfield MassacrePOA- 47-54

3- interesting facts

2- questions that you have from this era

1- concept you didn’t know

Historical Perspective Writing

History is meant to teach us “empathy”- to put ourselves in other’s shoes.

Additionally, you need to work on 50 word responses (short answer)& descriptive writing

Thus, for the following activity, you will get 7 minutes per “perspective” to write as if you were this person in approximately 50 words- i.e. 1 paragraph.

Be sure to include feelings, emotions, but also historical points from the incident.For example, why do you think Eunice stayed with the

Native Americans?

“The English had come to the New World to settle; the French had come not to settle, but to make money, by creating a fur-trading empire in Canada. Instead of exterminating the Indians, the French learned their language, traded, formed alliances, and even intermarried with them and sought to convert them to the Catholic faith. As imperial England and imperial France clashed on the American continent, the French army and its Indian allies fought a series of wars with the English army in America in which the American colonials were a ‘junior partner.’”

- Historian John Demos, 1994

Empires Clash Contest between Britain, France, Spain 1688-1763- four European wars for New

World and control of Europe• King William’s War

• Queen Anne’s War

• War of Jenkins’ Ear

• Eventually– Seven Years’ War (French and Indian War)

• Period of “salutary neglect” for the colonists

• War breaks out in Ohio River Valley (1750s)

French/Indian War (Seven Years’ War)

England, Prussia vs. France, Spain, Austria, Russia Bloodiest fighting in Europe 1754--- Albany Congress

• Intercolonial congress• Ben Franklin’s Albany Plan---

• British perspective• Colonists’ perspective

British invade Canada• William Pitt--- “Great Commoner”- (status

of Parliament)• Battle of Quebec

Peace of 1763---

Results of French/Indian War----

Colonists---

Tensions with Britain---

Colonial Unity?----

Removal of France…

Spain & Indians’ a reduced threat

* Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763)

* Proclamation Line of 1763---

New vision for colonists--

Pontiac’s Rebellion,

1763

When did the “revolt” begin? American environment---

• Not the tradition & hierarchy

• No longer “transplanted” English after 150 years

The Road to Revolution: 1763-1775

1763: English Policy Shifts

Mercantilism to Imperialism---Why?British perspective---Colonist perspective(s)---

Mercantilism

Colonies acquired by “a fit of absent-mindedness”-----------

Mercantilism– shaped policies of all European countries- 1500s-1700s

• Country’s economic wealth (military & political power) measured by gold/silver in treasury

• Colonies exist to raise standard of living of government and nation

• Country must export more than it imports Advantages of having colonies---- Strong, central gov’ts to enforce mercantile

policies

Parent Dynamic of Mercantilism

Role of Colonies in Mercantilism

Colonists Expected To: Furnish products needed in England Buy British! Avoid economic

independence and self-government

Ensure British military supremacy

Don’t trade with other European powers

Ensuring Mercantilism Occurs…

Navigation Laws– (1650)- restricted commerce to and from the colonies to England- keeps $$ in British Empire

Currency--- no banks allowed in coloniesBartering common- lack of gold/silverPrivy Council- any laws in colonies that

contradict King- reviewed (royal veto)

Reality of Mercantilism Navigation Laws (1650-1776) but remind me… what was salutary neglect

(1688-1763?)Not enforced for most of the timeColonists paid little attention to themBritish were lax in enforcement

So, who’s at fault with this one? (remember, history is an argument over how

we interpret events!!)

A Mercantile Relationship

+ of Mercantilism Guaranteed trading partner London provided price supports to those

who produced for military VA. Planters guaranteed a monopoly of

British markets Americans had same rights as

Englishmen Didn’t have to tax themselves against

foreign threats (French, Spanish) Enjoyed British protection Average American more well off than

average Englishmen in 1775

“By golly, those gents have it pretty good over there!!”

- Of Mercantilism Start to enforce Navigation Laws after

1763 Not under “most profitable” conditions Regional favoritism--- which?

Virginians at mercy of British “being milked like cows”

“We have an old mother than peevish is grown; She snubs us like children that scarce walk alone; She forgets we’re grown up and have sense of our own.”

• Ben Franklin

“ That picture up there ain’t too appealing Lord Snobbington!”

Colonists’ Reaction

Royal Seal

Stamp Act Crisis- 1765

F/I War caused tremendous debt in England

Colonists– help out! Quarter troops!

PM- George GrenvilleSugar Act (1764)Quartering Act (1765)Stamp Act (1765)

• Purpose---

• British perspective--

Reaction

Jeopardized basic rights as Englishmen Colonists tried in admiralty courts “No taxation without representation!” Distinction between “legislation” and “taxation”

Role of Parliament Grenville- “virtual representation” Power of Parliament cannot be divided

Should British gov’t let colonists be represented?

Virtual representation vs. Actual Representation

Reaction cont. Stamp Act Congress

Nine colonies meet in NYCStatement of grievancesImportance of S.A. Congress---

Nonimportation agreementsSons of Liberty/Daughters of

Liberty Loud demands for repeal! Parliament repeals- passes Declaratory Act of 1766----

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes… Charles Townshend- PM Townshend Acts (1767)

Tea really irked colonistsUsed $$ to pay salaries of royal governors and judgesWhy colonists didn’t like this…Letters From a Pennsylvania Farmer (John Dickinson)

Smuggling of tea British put regiments into Boston- 1768

Boston “Massacre”

Colonials resented British troops Boston is NOT a “military” town March 5, 1770

60 townspeople turned on 10 Redcoats British troops opened fire Killed 5, wounded 6 Crispus Attucks John Adams called on to defend the troops Why would Adams do this?!

How could this colonial-era picture be considered “propaganda?”

Tensions Boil Over- 1773-1775

Committees of Correspondence

Townshend duties failed to raise revenue Parliament repeals Townshend

duties Tax on tea was kept to ensure

taxation principle Sam Adams--- “penman of the

revolution” Local committees of

correspondence• Chief function—

Intercolonial committees of correspondence

• Effectiveness--

Let’s Have a Tea Party!!! 1773- rebellion not inevitable British East India Company-

17 million lbs. of unsold tea Awarded complete monopoly

over colonies Tea turned away Boston--- Dec. 16, 1773

Sam Adams and Sons of Liberty

Reaction--- oooops!

Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)

Passed in response to the Boston Tea Party

• 1.• 2.• 3.• 4.

Quebec Act (separate but … bad timing)

Mass. made mistake- did Britain make a bigger mistake?

Colonies rallied around Mass.

Continental Congress Called!!!!Fall of 1774

Meeting in Philadelphia• 12 colonies (except Georgia)

First Continental Congress• Deliberated from Sept. 5- Oct. 26• Consultive body• Creation of The Association• BOYCOTT

No drive towards independence Creation of list of grievances Congress would reconvene in May 1775

• (what happens in April 1775?)

Battles of Lexington and Concord

April 1775 British attempting to:

• seize colonial gunpowder • Capture John Hancock & Sam Adams

Lexington Massacre British suffered 300 casualties

(70 killed) at Concord

“An Old Soldier Remembers…”

Battle Royale- Britain vs. Colonies

British Strengths— Population Military power

• Hessians

British Weaknesses--- European backdrop British public reluctance “Whig” faction of British gov’t wanted to see king fail

(supporters of Parliament) Military difficulties Distance Geography- colonists have “home-court” advantage “trade space for time” … what does this mean?

Battle Royale- Britain vs. Colonies Colonists’ Strengths--- Leadership

George Washington, Ben Franklin, Marquis de Lafayette

Defensive fighting Moral advantage?

Colonial Weaknesses--- Poor organization State and sectional jealousies Economic issues

“minority movement”-----

Central theme/symbol to work information around----

Names, Quotes, Questions, Issues, Events, Places, Terminology, Key People, factual statements… (see ex.)--- sheet should be littered with these … (very little white space!)

Raising a Military

20,000 men- to Bostonafter Lexington/Concord Second Continental Congress-

May 10, 1775 Address grievances George Washington selected to head military

Why GW?

War of Inconsistencies- 1775-1776

June 1775- Breed’s Hill (Bunker Hill)

“Olive Branch Petition”-

August 1775- Hessians--- Conquering Canada? (umm….)

- get French aid? British set fire to

Norfolk, VA.

Common Sense? Independence in Jan. 1776? Increasingly harsh British---- Publication of Common Sense

Thomas Paine•Inconsistencies don’t makesense!! … hey! Get it?! •Republicanism---•“virtue”--- •Egalitarianism---- •Defining republicanism lasts another 100 years

Declaring Independence

June 7, 1776- Richard Henry Lee—

Committee of five to draft declaration– (turned over to T.J.)

Motion adopted on July 2, 1776 “Explanation of Independence” Grievances addressed to the

Crown?- not Parliament? Jefferson’s version vs. the

“Final Draft” Reflection of Enlightenment

values “We must all hang together.”

- Ben Franklin

War for Independence- 1775-1783

The War for Independence: 1775-1783Division in the Colonies

Impact of D.O.I.— “war within a war”— Loyalists= Tories

Who were they? Where were they?

Patriots= Whigs Who were they? Where were they? Why wasn’t this as

bloody as the French or Russian Revolutions?

“minority movement”—

1776: From Despair to Triumph

Boston evacuated (March)

British in NYC– benefits--

Battle of Long Island Gen. William Howe-- Washington at

Trenton, PrincetonSignificance of

victories--

British Strategy in the Colonies

Cut NE off from colonies- paralyze American causeBurgoyne

pushes south & meets Howe coming up Hudson

Howe goes to Philly instead (2nd set of orders)

America: Story of Us video clip

Bring in the French!

Burgoyne trapped north of Albany by militiamen

Battle of Saratoga (Oct. 1777)- Victory revives

colonial causeGets France involvedSee the colonists as a

legitimate threat to British

Enlightenment ideals fuel many in France

Impact of French Involvement

France aids colonists Britain—

Home rule?Not enough anymore

French alliance in 1778 Colonial war goes global---

Spain, Holland also enterWhy?

Britain now focuses on NY area- base

GW will remain in NY hitting off and on from 1778-1781

British Strategy Part II: The Loyal South??

Roll up the colonies from the South

Gen. Nathaniel Greene– Out west---

• Role of Indians• Treaty of Fort

Stanwix—• George Rogers Clark

At sea---• John Paul Jones• Privateers

1. 1776-1777- cut the “head” off the colonies

2. “roll up” on the South

3. Britain has control of sea- forces at Chesapeake Bay (Yorktown)

End of the “Formal” Fighting

1780-1781- very “dark” period of war-

no $$ to pay soldiers, colonists invested in war

Sense of unity withering Battle of Yorktown--- video clip

1783: Peace at Paris Three American

negotiators-• Ben Franklin• John Adams• John Jay

Playing offEuropean rivals— Treaty of Paris

• Conditions- New Nation

Emerges-

Socratic Question #1

Discuss the validity of the mercantilist philosophy as adopted by the British in the 1600s as well as how this economic philosophy evolved by the time the colonists openly rebelled in the 1770s.

Socratic Question #2

To what extent had the colonists developed a sense of their identity and unity as Americans by the eve of the Revolution?