Britain
Pride in being the world’s advanced and freest nation Greatest naval and commercial power A parliament that represented the landed and merchant class
Sharpened sense of National Identity Shared throughout the empire, including the colonies
Single political-cultural-economic capital-London Common law Common Language Common devotion to Protestantism
Constant War with France Military establishment Higher taxes Bank of England
Europe and the Colonies
Central to British identity
Liberty was their unique possession Power and liberty were natural antagonists
House of Commons, House of Lords, and the king checked themselves
Colonists believed they were part of the freest political system known to man
Much better that the “servile” subjects of Catholic countries Especially France
Liberty
Republicanism
Literally meant a country without a king Not widely used in England
Memories of the beheading of Charles I Celebration of active participation in public life
Economically independent citizens Virtue
Could only come from property-owning citizens Willingness to set aside self-interest for the public
good
Republican Liberty
John Locke- Two Treaties of Government (1680)
Republicanism- public and social quality Liberalism- individual and private Government was formed by a mutual agreement of
equals “Social Contract”-men surrendered part of their
individual rights for the rule of law Retained natural right, which preexisted political authority Shielding public life from interference of the state
Government’s main purpose was to protect property Not really addressing women and slaves
Mostly propertied individuals
Liberal Freedom
Britain busy with imperial conflicts
Not much attention given to colonies Right to vote
Still held to property owning white males Which left out women, free blacks, and male heirs
This is not the case in all the colonies Much more in colonies than in Britain
50-80% voted in Colonies in 18th Century 5% voted in England in 18th Century
Colonial Political Freedoms
Most voting took place only during elections
In between decisions made by assemblies Many elections went uncontested
Community harmony Colonial Gov’t
Most governors established by England Rhode Island and Connecticut exceptions Laws passed by assemblies could be vetoed by governors
or by London Rise of Assemblies
Many became much like House of Commons in London A good governor worked with them
Political Culture
No true ideas of Freedom of Speech or the
Press Speech could be punished Censorship and papers were regulated
Increasing numbers of Newpapers Helped with increased literacy
1775- 3/4 of free males could read, 1/3 of women Pennsylvania Gazette- 1728
Owned by Benjamin Franklin 2,000 subscribers
The Press
German-born printer who immigrated to New York Establishes the Weekly Journal
Contributions opponents of Gov. William Cosby Accused Gov. of corruption, influence peddling, and
tyranny Arrested and tried on charges of sedition
Found not guilty Andrew Hamilton urged them to judge the gov.
The Trial of PeterZenger
Originated with French thinkers but crossed the
Atlantic Sought to apply to political and social life the
scientific method and reasoning Strongly inspired from the bloodshed of religious
wars across Europe Reason, not religious enthusiasm could govern life
Benjamin Franklin one of the best known Enlightened thinkers
The American Enlightenment
Arminianism
Reason alone was capable of establishing the essentials of religion
Deism God withdrew after creating the world leaving it
to function according to scientific laws without divine intervention Isaac Newton, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin
Franklin
The Ideas of Enlightenment
Religion was an important part of Colonial life
Sermons, theological treaties, and Bibles were by far the largest category of materials published
Westward expansion, commercial developments, Enlightenment, lack of attendance in church services All undermining religious devotion
The Great Awakening
Revivals
Religious Revivals spread throughout the Colonies Traveling preachers
brought in thousands of people
George Whitefield Lead Awakening in
Europe Came to America
and was a colonial icon
Reflected tensions in the colonies New churches created even deeper divisions Called into question the authority of the colonial
system Salvation over Economic profit Increased Christianity within the slave
communities, especially in the Chesapeake Also inspired many to set their slaves free
The Impact
Ohio Valley
Many different tribes placed there with expansion and settlements
Balance-of- Power Many learned to play each Empire off each other
Ohio County Becomes a point of contention between France and
England 1749- Virginia gives a large land grant to the Ohio
Company George Washington among the members This brought tensions between Britain and France
France claimed the area and bolstered its presence there
MiddleGround
King William’s, Queen Anne’s, and King
George’s War All started outside of American Colonies
Brought to colonies Colonial participation
Took pride in their contribution Hoped to be recognized as part of the British
Empire Saw the lack of recognition especially in peace
settlements as an insult
The Imperial Wars and America
Also known and the 7 Years War
Conflicts in Europe between France and Britain spread through out the world West Africa, Asia, and the Colonies Many claim this is the First World War
War starts in 1754 George Washington Started it all
Fort Necessity- utter failure English Win the War
William Pitt- All Out War-1757 France lost all of its land in America Spanish lost Florida for Cuba and Philippines Louisiana Territory handed over Spanish Biggest losers are the Indians
The French-Indian War
Indian threat on frontiers affects all colonies Albany Plan
Called on by Benjamin Franklin Formation of Grand Council
Members would include elected members of colonies
Attempt to oversee matters of defense Failed
Colonial assemblies want to hold their own powers
English Parliament
Colonial Call to Action
Primary aim was to hold onto Independence
French ceded Native land to Britain they did not own
Neolin’s vision Master of Life
Must reject European technology, commercial ties, break the hold of alcohol, return to native dress and life
Pan-Indian Identity
British win Proclamation Line of 1763
Potomac’s War
Colonist felt they were always part of England
Becomes very clear that England saw it another way England’s lack of respect for the militia will come
back to haunt them Britain exits war in debt
Taxation of the colonies British troops in colonies
Consolidation of Empire
Prime Minister George Grenville Reduced tax on Molasses- 6 to 3 pense
Good thing More money coming into the coffers
Attempts to end smuggling Bad thing Colonial juries tended to acquit smugglers Now smugglers tried without jury trials
Removes power of colonial courts
Revenue Act Wool and hides previously traded free with Holland,
France, and Southern Europe Now all must go through England
Sugar Act 1764
Direct tax on the Colonies
Previous Sugar Act had mostly affected merchants
Now all the colonists are feeling it All printed goods must carry a stamp
purchased by authorities Newspapers, books, court documents,
commercial papers, land deeds, almanacs, etc.
American Boycott of British Goods “Taxation without Representation”
Taxation had been a colonial duty
Stamp Act of 1765
Virginia House of Burgess Meets led by Patrick
Henry- May 1765 Pass Virginia Resolves
Virginians were British Citizens Shared the rights and privileges as Britons Self-taxation Had always taxed themselves Virginia Assembly alone had the right to place
taxes on Virginians Two other more radical Resolutions not passed
Patrick Henry and Virginian Opposition
Samuel Adams- Boston Son’s of Liberty
Organized protests Craftsmen, shopkeepers, dockworkers, and laborers
Intimidation Andrew Oliver
Stamp distributer Aug. 14, 1765, burned in effigy Resigns
Thomas Hutchison- Governor House was destroyed by a mob
Colonial Opposition
Stamp Act Congress-October 1765
27 delegates meet in New York Dismissed Virtual Representation Used deferential language in protest Virtually ineffective
Yet advanced the notion of intercontinental cooperation
“Liberty and Property”
Stamp Act repealed in March 1765
Declaratory Act Parliaments right to legislate for the colonies
Assertion of the right to tax the colonies
Revenue Act of 1767/Townsend Duties Duties on tea, glass, lead, paper, and paints Revenue would pay royal governor’s salaries
New York Refusal to enforce the Quartering Act of 1765
New York Suspending Act Assembly is virtually disolved
Repeal with Bigger Problems
Samuel Adams-Boston
Now a member of the Mass. Assembly Parliamentary tax was unjust without representation Pay for governors subverted the relationship between
the people and their rulers Homespun
Need for colonial manufactoring magnified Appeal to “homemade” products Brought women into the fold of “liberty” and the
ideas of patriotism Daughter’s of Liberty
Opposition
Fall 1768- 3,000 British Troops arrive in Boston
to quell uproar 1769
Tensions high, but no major incidents occur March 5, 1770
Small crowd taunts British troops Throw snowballs and insults
A soldiers fires after being struck Eleven men hit, 5 died
The Boston Massacre
Captain Thomas Preston and 8 soldiers placed on
trial All but 2 are acquitted
Branded on thumbs The funerals for the dead
Five buried with lavish funerals Among them is Crispus Attucks
African-American/Native American Man Lord North
Repeals Townsend Duties 1770, but keeps the tax on Tea
Aftermath