Bonds of the EmpireEpisode 1: The Monarch Menace

Rebellion and Wars

Royal Centralization: 1660-1688

Monarchs (Charles II, James II) did not need/want representative government

Rarely called Parliament

Charles II appointed army generals as governors

Rebellion and War (cont)

MA wanted self-governance

King Charles II revoked charter, creating a royal colony

James II consolidates MA, NH, CT, RI, and Plymouth into the Dominion of New England (Boston is capital)

NY and NJ added in 1688

Governed by Sir Edmund Andros

Glorious Revolution (1688-9)

Glorious Revolution results in English Bill of Rights

Creates limited monarch

Parliament must be assembled annually

Respect civil liberties

Glorious Revolution (cont)

Leisler’s Rebellion

Captain Jacob Leisler takes command of militia

May 1689 – Militia seizes NY harbor’s main fort

Fears English commander who arrives in 1691 is loyal to James II

Denies access to key forts – skirmish – Leisler is arrested

Glorious Revolution (cont.)

King William dismantles Dominion

CT and RI may elect governors

1691 – MA has new charter (King will choose governor)

Property ownership determines voting rights

MA must tolerate ALL Protestants (Anglicans, Baptists, Quakers)

Plymouth and ME remain part of MA

NH is a royal colony

Colonists have control over their colonies to an extent

“New England is secure as long as they reign”

King William’s War (1689-97)

England joins coalition against French Crown

First in a series of European wars to be fought in North America

New Yorkers and New Englanders take advantage and invade Montreal and Quebec (#fail)

Iroquois Confederacy

Pro-French Natives/Pro-English Natives

Iroquois Confederacy face attack from French with little help from British allies

1700 – Confederacy was divided into pro-French, pro-English, and neutralist.

Grand Settlement of 1701

Neutralists make peace with France and Indian allies

No more military cooperation with England

Significance

Acknowledged dependence on UK of Great Britain

Proud to be British

Recognized they weren’t ready to be on their own just yet (#frienemies)

Navigation Acts

Series of documents that defined Britain’s policies

First act is 1651 – colonial trade must take place on English ships

1660 – Certain goods must travel through England or Scotland; imports must arrive in English ships

1663 – Imports arrive via England

Molasses Act (1773) – Taxed all foreign molasses

Population Growth

England had more residents of the colonies than France or Spain (North of the Rio Grande)

Mid 1700’s – British colonists rise to 1.2 million; French – 60,000; Spanish 19,000

Slavery Grows

Middle Passage: Africa to America journey

Southern planters would mingle slaves from different areas/languages

Rebellions on ships – 1 in 10

Most slaves were in south, but 15% north of Maryland

Slavery Grows

Urban Sprawl

Cities were key to British survival (particularly ports)

By mid-1700's poverty rates were incredibly high in New York, Philadelphia, and Boston

Wealth remained concentrated (New York's wealthiest 10% owned 45% of property)

France and America

France wants Louisiana

Natives are split between pro-French and pro-English

Corrupt government makes life miserable for all

Everyone works together to survive