■ Essential Questions: –What sense of “colonial unity” existed in the British American colonies by the 18 th Century?

–How was 1763 (the end of the French and Indian War) a “turning point” in British-colonial relationships?

Moving from European Ways

■ Democratic forms of government –Each colony had a representative assembly elected by male voters –There were no political offices that could be dominated by a single aristocratic family ■ Religious toleration –All colonies permitted the practice of other religions (mostly Protestant), and Rhode Island and Pennsylvania offered religious asylum for the most

Rise of the American Press

■ Newspapers grew in number and popularity throughout 18 th Century America –They were the primary form of method by which news spread throughout the colonies –Freedom of the Press???

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John Peter Zenger, a New York publisher arrested and charged with libel against the colonial governor (for writing about his adultery)

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Zenger’s lawyer argues that what he wrote was true, so it can’t be libel

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English law says it doesn’t matter if it’s true or not

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Jury acquits Zenger anyway



truth since it was the

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Not total freedom of the press, but newspapers now took greater risks in criticism of political figures.

Zenger decision was a landmark case which paved the way for the eventual freedom of the press.

Zenger Case, 1734-5: New York newspaper assailed corrupt local governor, charged with libel, defended by Alexander Hamilton

French & English Mercantilist Wars

French & English Colonial Wars

■ The introduction of new English mercantilist policies changed its economic & military attitude towards the colonies: –Increase protective tariffs & create trade regulations so the colonies work for motherland –If that failed, go to war with economic rivals & get the colonists to fight too

French & English Colonial Wars

■ A series of European conflicts involving England & France spilled over into colonial North America: –King William’s War (1689-1697) –Queen Anne’s War (1702-1713) –King George's War (1743-1748) ■ These wars were based on mercantilist competition & had little political significance, but…

…these wars led to a land frenzy in the 1750s, among French & British colonists Territorial disputes along the Ohio River sparked the French & Indian War

Westward Expansion & Land Conflicts, 1750-1775

Turning Point: 1754

■ 1754 proved to be a turning point in American colonial history ■ In 1754, English officials & colonists met to discuss Iroquois problems at the Albany Congress –Benjamin Franklin proposed the

Albany Plan of Union

for a coordinated colonial army –The plan was vetoed by colonial assemblies & Parliament

Ben Franklin’s Albany Plan of Union

America’s 1

st

political cartoon

Turning Point: 1754

Washington to protect an Ohio Company claim Washington’s troops were forced to retreat from Fort Duquesne; This clash proved to be the beginning of the French & Indian War

French & Indian War

The French & Indian War

■ The war went bad for England from 1756 to 1758 ■ In 1757, Prime Minister William Pitt took command of the military: –Used well-qualified generals –Had a “blank check” to fund the war in America, India, & Europe –In 1758, the tide of the war turned; England won by 1760

1758-1761 The Tide Turns for England By 1761, Spain became an ally of France

Treaty of Paris

■ France —lost Canada, most of its empire in India, & claims to lands east of the Mississippi River ■ Spain —got all French lands west of the Miss. River, New Orleans, but lost Florida to England ■ England —gained all French lands in Canada, exclusive rights to the Caribbean slave trade, & total control of India

North America after 1763 America in

1750

America in

1763

Perceptions of the War

■ Colonial views: –Colonies could be very strong when they worked together –Newly gained frontier had land –Colonial commanders learned how to fight ■ English views: –Americans took forever to organize & balked at helping raise money for an expensive war to protect their own lands

British-American Tensions

Colonials British

Fighting Methods Indian-style guerilla attacks Marching in formation Military Organization Militias led by captains British officers in charge of colonials Finances Resistant to rising taxes Colonists should help pay for their own defense

Was 1763 a “Turning Point” in British-Colonial Relationships?

Effects of the War on Britain?

■ The war increased England’s colonial empire in North America ■ But, Pitt’s “blank check” greatly enlarged England’s debt ■ Britain’s contempt for the colonials created bitter feelings ■ As a result, England leaders felt that a major reorganization of its American Empire was necessary!

Effects of the War on Americans?

■ The French & Indian War united the colonists against a common enemy for the 1st time ■ The 1760s were an affluent & optimistic “post-war” period with little thought of independence: –Most colonists considered themselves proud members of England’s empire

Eroding Bonds of the Empire

Parliamentary Sovereignty

■ In 1760, George III became king & began a new colonial attitude:

Parliamentary sovereignty

–English officials assumed that Parliament must have ultimate authority over ALL laws & taxes –The colonists tried to reserve the colonial authority for their own legislatures

No Taxation Without Representation

■ The colonists assumed that their assemblies were quasi-equal to Parliament because they had no Parliamentary representatives ■ British officials countered with “

virtual representation

” argument ■ The colonists insisted that only their colonial assemblies could tax Americans

Two Theories of Representation

■ What was the extent of Parliament’s authority over the colonies?

Absolute?

OR Limited?

■ How could the colonies accept the decisions of Parliament when they did not have representation in that body?

Eroding the Bonds of Empire

■ After the Seven Years War, everyone expected George to remove British army from America (French were no longer a threat) ■ But…this large, expensive army was not removed –British citizens were not happy because they had to pay for it –Colonists doubted the army’s value against Native Americans

Pontiac’s War

■ Backcountry natives banded together to repel white frontier settlers during Pontiac’s War: –Indian successes exposed the British army’s weakness –Attacks revealed desperation of Native Americans after the withdrawal of the French –Colonials took matters into their own hands (Paxton Boys in PA)

Pontiac’s Rebellion, 1763

Fort Detroit British “gifts” of smallpox infected blankets from Fort Pitt

The Proclamation of 1763

■ In response to Pontiac’s war, the British government established the

Proclamation Line of 1763

: –This law forbade colonists from settling across the Appalachian Mountains (for their own protection) –Americans viewed the line as an obstruction to their “legitimate economic development”

North America in 1763

The Enlightenment

■ The introduction of Parliamentary sovereignty: –Contradicted the original English policy of salutary neglect –Took place amidst the European Enlightenment which was beginning to impact colonial thought (especially the ideas of John Locke)

Conclusions: Rule Britannia?

Rule Britannia?

■ Despite the mounting tension, by 1763, most Americans were loyal “brothers” to England because of: –a shared British culture –dependence upon British consumer goods –shared nationalism after British military victories against France