Imperial Perspective

Chapter 4

English Administration of the Colonies

• Royal colonies– British crown responsible for

defense.– British crown regulated external

trade.• Elected lower houses

– Home rule – Self-government in the colonies

became first a habit, then a “right.”

Economy: Mercantilism (self-

sufficient)• World’s gold and silver supply fixed.• Nations could gain wealth only at

the expense of another country – by seizing its gold and silver and dominating its trade.

• Colonies were part of an empire. – Source of raw materials.– Market for finished goods.

AtlanticTrade

• Growing economy

• Unfavorable balanceof trade

• Shortage of hard money

• Ton of debt

Navigation Acts (1651, 1660,

1663)

• Terms:– All imported goods to be shipped in

English vessels.– Enumerated articles could only be

shipped to England or other English colonies.

– All goods imported by the colonies come through England.

• The Imperial System before 1760– The benefits of benign neglect

TroubledNeighbors

• Indian-wars– A series of Indian wars in the mid-1670s– King Philip’s War in New England between

colonists and the Wampanoag tribe.• Bacon’s Rebellion

– Virtually a civil war in Virginia over how to control the Indians.

– Nathaniel Bacon burned Jamestown in 1676 in an effort to arrest the governor.

– Bacon became ill and died of swamp fever.

The Glorious Revolution of

1688-89• Charles II died in 1685 and was

succeeded by his brother, the duke of York.– James II openly parade his Catholic faith.

• Parliament invited James’s Protestant daughter Mary and her husband, the Dutch leader William of Orange to assume the throne as joint monarchs.– James II fled to France.

• Bill of Rights and Toleration Act (1689)– Limited the powers of rulers and affirmed

freedom of Worship for Christians.– Did not limit the king’s power in America.

John Locke 1632-1704

• Defended the overthrow of James II, which set a precedent for revolution against the monarch.

• Two Treatises on Government (1690)– Contract theory of government argued

that people were endowed with natural rights to life, liberty, and property.

– When rulers violated these rights, the people could overthrow the monarch and change their government.

The Habit of Self-Government

• Americans liked being British subjects.– Opportunities for trade and

commerce.– Military protection.– Political stability.

• Benefits had few costs.– Salutary neglect.– Home rule.

England vs. France

• A competition to dominate world trade and naval power. Intensified after the Glorious Revolution.

• Four Wars– War of the League of Augsburg / King

William’s War (1689-97)– War of the Spanish Succession / Queen

Anne’s War (1702-13)– War of the Austrian Succession / King

George’s War (1744-48)– Seven Years’ War / French and Indian

War (1754-63)

French & Indian War 1754-63

(Seven Years’ War)• Expansion led to conflict.• The Ohio Valley

– French Fort Duquesne.– George Washington and

Fort Necessity.• Three Phases

– 1754-56: British in North America losing– 1756-58: War starts in Europe/England in

charge– 1758-63: English win one battle after

another.

Peace of Paris (1763)

• France: Ended French power in North America.

• Britain: Everything east of Mississippi River (except N.O.)

• Spain: Louisiana

•

Postwar Expectations

• Colonial pride and optimism• English resentments

– Unsatisfied with colonists role in war– Want more control– Want colonies to help pay for defense

•4 wars left England in enormous debt