The Empire on the Eve The Empire on the Eve of Revolutionof Revolution

(‘86) Despite the view of some historians that the conflict (‘86) Despite the view of some historians that the conflict between Great Britain and its thirteen North American between Great Britain and its thirteen North American colonies was economic in origin, in fact the American colonies was economic in origin, in fact the American Revolution had its roots in politics and other areas of Revolution had its roots in politics and other areas of American life. Assess the validity of this statement. American life. Assess the validity of this statement.

(‘89) In the two decades before the outbreak of the (‘89) In the two decades before the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, a profound shift occurred in American Revolutionary War, a profound shift occurred in the way many Americans thought and felt about the the way many Americans thought and felt about the British government and their colonial governments. British government and their colonial governments. Assess the validity of this statement in view of the Assess the validity of this statement in view of the political and constitutional debate of these decades. political and constitutional debate of these decades.

(’92) Evaluate the relative importance of the following as (’92) Evaluate the relative importance of the following as factors prompting Americans to rebel in 1776:factors prompting Americans to rebel in 1776:

Parliamentary taxation British military measuresParliamentary taxation British military measures Restriction of civil liberties Restriction of civil liberties

The legacy of colonial religious and political ideas The legacy of colonial religious and political ideas (‘97) Analyze the extent to which the American (‘97) Analyze the extent to which the American

Revolution represented a radical alteration in American Revolution represented a radical alteration in American political ideas and institutions. Confine your answer to political ideas and institutions. Confine your answer to the period 1775 to 1800. the period 1775 to 1800.

I. Britain on the EveI. Britain on the Eve

British political culture disabled response: British political culture disabled response: system still vital, but too rigid to respond system still vital, but too rigid to respond reasonably/imaginativelyreasonably/imaginatively

In addition, B knowledge of colonies In addition, B knowledge of colonies imperfect: info channeled through imperfect: info channeled through Governors (office seekers, aristocrats) who Governors (office seekers, aristocrats) who couldn’t/didn’t understand colonial situationcouldn’t/didn’t understand colonial situation Board of Trade and PlantationsBoard of Trade and Plantations Secretary of State for the Southern DepartmentSecretary of State for the Southern Department

A. Conservative CultureA. Conservative Culture

End of Seven Years war: greatest End of Seven Years war: greatest empire in world spanning the globe empire in world spanning the globe (Asia, Africa, Canada)(Asia, Africa, Canada)

Enormous power at homeEnormous power at home Economy and population growing Economy and population growing

rapidlyrapidly Proud of “English liberties”: great Proud of “English liberties”: great

degree political freedom and powerdegree political freedom and power But bought at a cost: Magna Carta, But bought at a cost: Magna Carta,

English Civil War, Glorious RevolutionEnglish Civil War, Glorious Revolution

B. Government in BritainB. Government in Britain Representation in Parliament was limited to Representation in Parliament was limited to

property holders, and not even all of those:property holders, and not even all of those: Rotten boroughsRotten boroughs Failure to reapportion: no account of population Failure to reapportion: no account of population

changes (shift north)changes (shift north) ½ of seats controlled by old families½ of seats controlled by old families

VirtualVirtual representationrepresentation: all citizens : all citizens represented in Parliament because all towns, represented in Parliament because all towns, cities, rural areas had basically same cities, rural areas had basically same interests, and there were representatives interests, and there were representatives from those types of areas; and Parliament from those types of areas; and Parliament had interests of whole nation at hearthad interests of whole nation at heart

English “Constitution”: system of laws and English “Constitution”: system of laws and tradition that established form of tradition that established form of governmentgovernment

Mixed: combination Mixed: combination monarchy monarchy (King), (King), aristocracyaristocracy (House of Lords), and (House of Lords), and democracydemocracy (House of Commons) (House of Commons) NOT a system of checks and balancesNOT a system of checks and balances

1689: Glorious Revolution1689: Glorious Revolution Parliament Parliament dominantdominant

1707: King cannot veto legislation1707: King cannot veto legislation Only House of Commons could levy taxes Only House of Commons could levy taxes

(no taxation without representation)(no taxation without representation)

C. View of ColoniesC. View of Colonies

Salutary Neglect (necessity of other concerns Salutary Neglect (necessity of other concerns and distance) until 1763and distance) until 1763

View colonies as very rude, crude, malformed View colonies as very rude, crude, malformed society; strong sense of superioritysociety; strong sense of superiority Yankee Doodle Dandy and the Colonial militiasYankee Doodle Dandy and the Colonial militias

BUT by mid-18BUT by mid-18thth growing concern that growing concern that colonies might break awaycolonies might break away pop. and pop. and territory growth, growing economyterritory growth, growing economy In part why take Canada over French sugar In part why take Canada over French sugar

islands at end F+I war (Franklin’s warning)islands at end F+I war (Franklin’s warning)

II. The Colonies on the EveII. The Colonies on the Eve

Before 1763 colonists content to be Before 1763 colonists content to be part of empire, and most especially part of empire, and most especially liked being left aloneliked being left alone

Mercantilism largely worked to Mercantilism largely worked to colonists’ advantage, and when colonists’ advantage, and when didn’tdidn’t bribery, smuggling, ignore bribery, smuggling, ignore Were not taxed directly by Parliament: Were not taxed directly by Parliament:

paid taxes to local assembly and paid taxes to local assembly and customs dutiescustoms duties

A. Colonial Political CultureA. Colonial Political Culture Believe English liberty extends back to ancient Believe English liberty extends back to ancient

Anglo-Saxons (birthright, not dependent on gov’t)Anglo-Saxons (birthright, not dependent on gov’t) Native born elites provide political direction: Native born elites provide political direction:

connected to British elite and able to influenceconnected to British elite and able to influence Merchants successfully lobby/petition ParliamentMerchants successfully lobby/petition Parliament

Role of gov’t: 1) “King’s gov’t” to maintain Role of gov’t: 1) “King’s gov’t” to maintain “King’s peace” (status quo) and foreign policy “King’s peace” (status quo) and foreign policy (esp. maintain imperial power)(esp. maintain imperial power)

2) Colonial gov’ts to provide “King’s peace” and 2) Colonial gov’ts to provide “King’s peace” and economic development: distribute land, economic development: distribute land, infrastructure, award certain monopolies, buy infrastructure, award certain monopolies, buy supplies in wartimesupplies in wartime source of capital and source of capital and stimulusstimulus

B. Colonial GovernmentB. Colonial Government Importance of government led to interest and Importance of government led to interest and

involvementinvolvement Colonial gov’t echoed British mixed: King=Governor, Colonial gov’t echoed British mixed: King=Governor,

Lords=Governor’s Council, Commons= AssemblyLords=Governor’s Council, Commons= Assembly Representation more open and broader:Representation more open and broader:

1) Land rich, labor poor society1) Land rich, labor poor society wide ownership, wide ownership, vote also extended to tenants and even residentsvote also extended to tenants and even residents

2) Class lines less rigid: no nobility2) Class lines less rigid: no nobility middle class middle class dominate social and political lifedominate social and political life

3) Religion: American church hierarchy weak3) Religion: American church hierarchy weak laymen establish powerlaymen establish power accustomed use of church accustomed use of church powerpower transfer power to politics transfer power to politics

Left out: women, blacks, IndiansLeft out: women, blacks, Indians

Approx. 100 year tradition native born elites Approx. 100 year tradition native born elites dominating a “widely” represented politydominating a “widely” represented polity

Actual/direct representationActual/direct representation: colonists : colonists believed their representatives were concerned for believed their representatives were concerned for their indiv., specific interests that differed from their indiv., specific interests that differed from others’others’

factionalism and power strugglesfactionalism and power struggles Conflict contained by unwritten rulesConflict contained by unwritten rules

1) interest groups/factions would 1) interest groups/factions would notnot use use violenceviolence violence threatens system and violence threatens system and economic prosperityeconomic prosperity

2) power as fire: power necessary but 2) power as fire: power necessary but dangerous and corrupting, must be contained dangerous and corrupting, must be contained (colonial and imperial)(colonial and imperial)

3) Americans run their own lives3) Americans run their own lives

Basis of stability in 18Basis of stability in 18thth century: century: 1) Representative institutions1) Representative institutions 2) Widespread ownership of land2) Widespread ownership of land 3) Tradition of self-gov’t3) Tradition of self-gov’t

StabilityStability Self-Gov Self-Gov Stability Stability A challenge to this self-gov threatens A challenge to this self-gov threatens

stabilitystability revolt revolt

III. 1763: Pyrrhic VictoryIII. 1763: Pyrrhic Victory

A. Pontiac’s RebellionA. Pontiac’s Rebellion Indians unable to play B and F off Indians unable to play B and F off

each othereach other British less willing to British less willing to negotiate on Indian termsnegotiate on Indian terms collapse of the “middle ground”collapse of the “middle ground”

+ Concerns Indians losing culture + Concerns Indians losing culture and religion to European and religion to European materialism and alcohol (the materialism and alcohol (the Delaware Prophet/Neolin)Delaware Prophet/Neolin)

= Pontiac’s Rebellion: massive = Pontiac’s Rebellion: massive Indian alliance attacks B outposts Indian alliance attacks B outposts (Detroit and Great Lakes, Penna. (Detroit and Great Lakes, Penna. + VA frontiers)+ VA frontiers)

B. Proclamation of 1763B. Proclamation of 1763

George III limits George III limits colonial expansion colonial expansion w/Proclamation Linew/Proclamation Line

1) Avoid war w/ Indians 1) Avoid war w/ Indians (fur trade, £137 million (fur trade, £137 million debt from F+I)debt from F+I)

2) Restrain power of 2) Restrain power of coloniescolonies

Sends 10,000 troops to Sends 10,000 troops to colonies to enforcecolonies to enforce Standing ArmyStanding Army

Colonists outraged:Colonists outraged: Need fertile lands for expansion (soil Need fertile lands for expansion (soil

exhaustion throughout colonies); some already exhaustion throughout colonies); some already settled there/had claim to landssettled there/had claim to lands

Felt it their due for militia’s role in F+I WarFelt it their due for militia’s role in F+I War Standing Army violated English rights under Standing Army violated English rights under

Magna CartaMagna Carta Even worse: Prime Minister Even worse: Prime Minister George George

Grenville Grenville decides colonies should help decides colonies should help pay for cost of running empire (pay for cost of running empire (notnot to pay to pay down war debt)down war debt) Sugar Act, 1764 Sugar Act, 1764 (Revenue Act)(Revenue Act)