The first three wars involved Great Britain, France, and Spain. The fourth war began in the colonies and was known as the Seven Years War. Colonists were unable and unwilling to defend their own frontiers. The relationship between the colonies and the British changed phenomenally.
The first three wars involved Great Britain, France, and Spain. The fourth war began in the colonies and was known as the Seven Years War. Colonists were unable and unwilling to defend their own frontiers. The relationship between the colonies and the British changed phenomenally.
The first three wars involved Great Britain, France, and Spain. The fourth war began in the colonies and was known as the Seven Years War. Colonists were unable and unwilling to defend their own frontiers. The relationship between the colonies and the British changed phenomenally.
Empires at War The First Three Wars • In the latter part of the 1600’s, a war which involved Great Britain, France, and Spain was sparked • This led to three other wars, which took place internationally across Europe, India, and North America • The wars were named for the Monarch whose dominion they took place on The First Three Wars • King William’s War: – Fought from 1689 to 1697 – English sought to gain Quebec, but failed • Queen Anne’s War: – Fought from 1702 to 1713 – English sought to gain Quebec, but the Indians assisted the French, and the English failed – English gained Nova Scotia from France, and trading rights in Spanish America • King George’s War: – Fought from 1744 to 1748 – The French and Spanish attacked the colonies – In the peace treaty that ended the war, the English gave Louisburg back to the French in exchange for gain in India The French and Indian War • While the wars seldom involved the colonists, the fourth war began in America • It was also known as the Seven Years War The Beginning of the War • The French began the war by building forts on the Ohio River Valley, to stop British growth • Britain’s General Washington took the newest French fort, but was then forced to surrender • This sparked the war • British General Edward Braddock lost at Fort Duquesne • British invasion of French Canada in 1757 failed The Albany Plan of Union • To make a more coordinated defense plan, representatives from seven colonies were called to Albany in 1754 • The Albany Plan of Union was thought up by Benjamin Franklin • Ideas included an intercolonial government, system for recruiting troops, and collecting taxes British Victory • The British retook Louisburg in 1758 • Quebec was surrendered in 1759 • Montreal was taken in 1760 • A peace treaty (The Peace of Paris) was signed in 1763 • French power in America was ended • France gave up Louisiana to Spain Immediate Effects of the War • Britain was the undisputed naval power in the world • American colonies didn’t have to worry about attacks form the French, Spanish, or the Indians • The relationship between the colonies and the British changed phenomenally The British View of America • Low opinion of colonial military • The colonists were unable and unwilling to defend their own frontiers Colonial View of British • Colonies were proud of their military performance • Unimpressed with British troops and leadership Reorganization of the British Empire • Britain no longer let their laws go unenforced • Policy of Salutary Neglect was abandoned • Because of the costly nature of the war, King George III and the Whig party decided to heavily tax the colonies Pontiac’s Rebellion • In 1763, Chief Pontiac attacked the colonies • Pontiac destroyed forts and settlements from New York to Virginia • British immediately sent troops to crush the rebellion, rather than having the colonies deal with it Proclamation of 1763 • The British prohibited the colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains • It was hoped that this would prevent more fights with the Indians • The Americans didn’t adhere to this proclamation, and streamed in the thousands past the boundary British Actions and Colonial Reactions Introduction • Proclamation of 1763 was one of the first acts that made the colonists angry with their mother country • The British saw them as attempting to protect the colonists • The colonists saw them as the British taking away their rights New Revenues and Regulations • The Sugar Act of 1764 – Placed taxes on sugar and other luxuries • Quartering Act – Colonists were required to provide food and shelter to British soldiers • Stamp Act – A revenue stamp must be placed on all legal documents, newspapers, pamphlets, and advertisements. It was later repealed by Parliament when a new Minister came into office. • Declaratory Act – Parliament had the right to tax and make laws for the colonies in all cases whatsoever Protesting the Stamp Act • Patrick Henry demanded that the King’s government recognize the rights of all citizens • James Otis asked for cooperative action in protesting the stamp act • The Sons and Daughters of Liberty tarred and feathered revenue officials • Boycotts were the most popular form of protest The Second Phase of the Crisis • Charles Townshend proposed another tax measure • Townshend Acts – Taxes collected on imports of tea, glass, and paper – Search of private homes for smuggled goods – A writ of Assistance was required, rather than a warrant – Suspended New York’s assembly Colonial Reaction • Colonial Leaders protested the new taxes • In Letters From A Farmer In Pennsylvania, John Dickinson said that taxation required consent • Massachusetts Circulation Letter was written in 1768 by Sam Adams – Urged colonies to petition to repeal Townshend Acts – British increased troops in Boston Repeal of the Townshend Acts • Prime Minister Fredrick North repealed the Townshend Acts in 1770 • A tax on tea was kept to enforce British superiority Boston Massacre • In March 1770, colonists were bothering soldiers, so the soldiers shot into the crowd • Five people were killed • John Adams got them acquitted Renewal of the Conflict • The Committees of Correspondence, started by Sam Adams in 1772, helped spread discord with the British The Gaspee • The British ship, the Gaspee, was a ship that attacked smugglers • When the ship ran aground, colonists dressed as Indians burned the ship Boston Tea Party • The Tea Act of 1773 was passed, which made British tea cheaper than smuggled Dutch tea • Colonists refused to buy, because they didn’t want to recognize British taxation • Colonists disguised as American Indians dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor in December 1773 Intolerable Acts • Collective name given to new laws from British • Coercive Acts (1774) – The Port Act closed the Boston port – Massachusetts Government Act reduced Massachusetts legislature power – Administration of Justice Act let royal officials be tried in England Intolerable Acts Continued • Quebec Act (1774) – Organized Canadian lands gained from French • Provisions – Roman Catholicism was the main religion of Quebec – Set up a government without representative assembly • American Anger – Quebec Act viewed as an attack on Colonists Philosophical Foundations of American Revolution The Enlightenment • In America, the Enlightenment was influenced by John Locke and his Two Treatises on Government • Many enlightenment thinkers in America were Deists, who believed God established natural laws • Believed in Rationalism • Jean Jacques Rousseau had a large influence on educated Americans