The American Mosaic

And The Imperial Crisis

• The 1700s reassured England that America would truly be the most beneficial of its colonies in terms of mercantilism and colonial imperialism, political, social, and economic dynamics changed.

( Triangular Trade—Technology from Liverpool to West Africa—Slaves to West Indies pick up sugar—to New England and pick up Rum back to Liverpool)

American Mosaic

• By 1763, No one drunk or sober was talking of Independence from Great Britain.

• There were issues such as the Navigational Acts, Sugar Tax, Molasses Tax etc … • Americans, however, considered themselves very British—took pride in their British Heritage …They were part of an empire.

American Importance • Until mid 18 th century, the only significance of America had been its provincial immigration.

• It was neither rich enough nor populace enough to give much thought.

• Intensive exploitation was done in the West Indies with its large Sugar and Slave economy.

American Importance • Because the British ignored us, we had by the French and Indian war been self governing ourselves in some rudimentary form.

• There were Royal governors and Royal councils, but they were paid and levied taxes according to the wishes of the local legislatures and Burgesses.

• This gave them some control over the executive and a more liberal form of government than in England.

Population Diversity • Immigration and Natural Increase – Enormous ethnic diversity – 250,000 enslaved African immigrants – 250,000 Scots-Irish – 135,000 Germans – Some Swiss, Swedes, Highland Scots, and Spanish Jews – Tremendous birthrate: three times higher than today • Diversity added to the more liberal form of government.

Older Communities and Backcountry • With the increase in population, the original settlements overflowed.

• Most of the new arrivals headed inland to settle the “backcountry.” • This backcountry served as a source of concern for the more established communities.

• The backcountry Backcountry settlements were regions of lawlessness and chaos.

• Isolated from one another, settlers had no strong community ties.

• Settlers moved many times before settling for good - adding to the lack of stability and family isolation.

Backcountry • The established rural communities refused the backcountry judicial or political representation.

• Often to combat the lawlessness, vigilante groups formed. • Regulators of S.C. doled out their own brand of justice in the 1760’s (also a change in how England viewed the colonists)

English Economic and Social Development – Large financial institutions and textile factories dominated England’s economy; colonies were predominantly rural – London’s population in 1750: 675,000 – 90 percent of all colonists lived in towns of fewer than 2,000 – England became an Industrial nation and saw the Americas as a raw material and consumer market for British goods.

American Society • Because of this Pax Britannia attitude embraced by many Americans, it altered how Americans viewed themselves as Englishmen.

• The top wrung was dominated by the merchants. • The middle wrung of the ladder were the skilled artisans - ship builders, ropemakers, blacksmiths. • The lower wrung was composed of free unskilled laborers - sailors, domestics, and prostitutes. • At the very bottom were Slaves and Indians and Poor Scots-Irish.

Demographics of the Colonies • New England was imbibed with this “Moral capitalism” and Shipping and Fishing Industry.

• There were growing Infant Industry, but mostly cottage at this time—great deal of skilled labor.

• Middle Colonies were the Bread-basket to the colonies—much skilled labor and still many indentures—It was mostly an artisan middle class economy.

South • From 1700 to 1750, there was a large increase of African Slave importation. If the math is correct roughly around 100 to 200,000 Africans made the journey. There also was a large increase of natural born slaves—by the time of the Revolution; approximately 600,000 blacks almost all located in the South and bound in slavery.

South • The South was greatly defined by the institution of plantation slavery.

• Although the number of slaves varied, cash crops (rice and cotton) were always grown. • Slaves created a world of their own in the slave cabins through family ties and community activities.

South • After working sunup to sundown, the slaves sang, danced, told folk-tales, and held religious services. • To resist, the slaves challenged orders, damaged furniture, played dumb, stole liquor, or broke tools. • Open rebellions, like 1739’s Stono Rebellion, were uncommon.

Anglo-American World • The colonies felt a strong sense of tradition with their British heritage.

• The colonists came to realize they had little in common with Britain.

• These differences laid the groundwork for the American Revolution.

Anglo-American World

•

England

• Many landless citizens. •

The Colonies

• All citizens owned land and farmed.

• 2% of the pop. owned 70% of land.

• 75% were middle class. • London, a city of 675,000, was the urban center of life. • 90% of Americans lived in rural towns of 2,000 or less.

• Agriculture ruled. • Industries rose.

Imperial Crisis • By the turn of the 18 th century, England became embroiled in Empirical wars with France and Spain.

• For the first time, America would become a battlefield or the reason the war was ignited.

• Spanish colonies in the South, West Indies, and Canada in the North also kept the British and France engaged in slippery slope diplomacy.

French and Indian War • The first true global World War; Participants were Britain, France, Spain, America, India and the Pacific Rim.

• By 1750, the major advantages rested with the French; they had strong interior positions (rivers) and many interior forts and strong alliances with the Indians.

• Britain controlled the coastal regions, a better Navy, could blockade if necessary—One advantage for British was population.

French and Indian War

• Unfortunately, though there were roughly 1 million British subjects along the coasts and some interior peoples, the big issue was that there was a great deal of strife—like one another less than they did the French.

• Each colony had more in common with Britain or Europe than they did with one another. • For instance Benjamin Franklin tried to initiate a colonial alliance for protection and security against the Indians and the French on the frontier “The Albany Plan of Union” Failed because colonists distrusted one another. Many preferred to wage war against themselves than against the French or the Indians for that matter.

British Issues • How to convince traditional and historical enemies to fight with and for you against a traditional ally?

• Would the New York Dutch remain loyal to the British?

• Would German Quakers fight against the French?

• How to persuade the Catholics and Anabaptists to ally with one who has traditionally persecuted you?

• What would the African Slaves do, how would they react to fighting for a master rather than joining the foe to maybe gain freedom?

British Fear • Alliances would fragment—end result would be a total collapse of the British North American colony. Total war would be risky.

• After the Fort defiant debacle, the colonists recognized they needed the protection of the British army—against the French and the Indians.

• Sent message to England—HELP! England responder with General Sir Edward Braddock

Braddock • Vain, Stubborn, Pompous, honest, prodigal, • Easy to Love (mistresses), easy to savagery (regarded anything less than British as expendable, including Americans); • Dull of wit, unread, unsophisticated—Good officer—just unsuited for a Wilderness campaign

Braddock • Benjamin Franklin, “he was a good European officer, however, he refused to recognize this was not a European war.” • Many of the colonists watching Braddock assembly his forces and wagon trains—thought this was doomed for disaster.

• Logistically and geographically he erred—should have disembarked from Pennsylvania not Virginia.

Braddock • He refused any advice from the colonials, who had been fighting frontier and wilderness war for over 100 years.

• He looked at a map and saw a direct route between Virginia to the Ohio fort Duquesne on the Ohio River—didn’t consider the terrain or difficulty.

• Take Fort Duquesne, then turn and assault Fort Niagara essentially blockading the French from New England and the coast.

Braddock • Franklin and an emissary group of colonial diplomats raised the question of ambush along such a long and toilsome march.

• Braddock greeted their concern with scorn— “My dear fellows, they all retreat in the face of the British bayonet.” • From Virginia to Ohio was pure wilderness—go by way of Pennsylvania—miles and miles of Quaker and German farmland before encountering the wilderness.

Braddock • Departure date, again warned that the wilderness journey may end in disaster..

• Braddock dismissed this concern suggesting that to you raw untrained and undisciplined militias this may be true, but to a highly trained and disciplined army—these fears were nothing more than nuisances and mosquitoes— • He even refused scouting assistance from friendly Indians—he placed the colonial militia to the rear.

Braddock’s Defeat • French planned to ambush Braddock at the Monongahela—British got there first.

• French had to negotiate with the Indians to get assistance, they feared British artillery—did not know artillery was in the rear—per George Washington’s insistence to make the strike force more mobile—bad choice.

• As the French approached they saw the British—Frencg Captain motioned for Indians to take to the high ground in the forest—they would stand their ground.

Braddock’s defeat • British saw this as a retreat—fired off two volleys and charged—bayonets at the ready.

• Unfortunately for Braddock and the British, the French did not run from the bayonet—stood their ground.

• Something was wrong—too many men were being hit considering the small advance guard of French troops in front of them.

Braddock’s Defeat • Bullets were from many directions; • They were in the middle of an ambush; British fought bravely but a small panic began to ensue; • British panicked, only the colonial militia used to Indian fighting took to the woods and fought back

Braddock’s Defeat • British military is formidable as long as it stays cohesive; • The British cursed and threatened the Militia as they thought they were running away—they forced them back by the point of the sword— Americans were angry that the British wanted to stand still and die; • Wilderness training had taught them run to the woods and fight back—a fight broke out between the Americans and the British.

Braddock’s Defeat • Reinforcements were rushed to the front, but too late, they too were decimated; • Braddock lay mortally wounded; bury him in unmarked grave and run wagons over the sire so Indians would not know where to dig him up and defile his body; • British troops now running for Virginia—many ran all the way—Could have been worse, but Indians stopped to scalp and finish off the wounded and loot the bodies.

Results of Braddock’s Defeat • Colonists living on frontier feared marauding Indians more than French troops; • Virginia was mortified that the British lost; • Somewhat prideful—Colonial Militia gave a good accounting of itself; still the defeat was unexpected; frontier lay open to savage and brutal Indian attacks; • Also disgusted at the stupidity of the British after being warned—angry at Braddock’s stupidity.

Lessons Learned • Quantitative changes: (things they saw) • British army not that invincible; European tactics ill-suited for frontier warfare; American Militia could fight as efficient as the British Regulars; also that pompous British arrogance refused to accept they could be defeated;

Lessons Learned • Qualitative Changes: (things inferred): • Local political—military advice proved more valuable than European doctrine and a distant Parliament or King; • Local government more in tuned and has more immediate influence and provocative perception on the local communities than a distant idealistic Parliament—representative government was better suited for the colonials than edicts from a King.

Stage is Set • The question is” what common factors among the continental American colonies at mid-century made possible the political union of the 1770s?

• America was expanding agriculturally (landowners), Industry was growing, large Merchant class, financial growth—through commerce, customs, traditions and politics there was a commonality growing.

• Big contempt for Royal politics and King.

Stage is Set • Transportation was creating a geographic propinquity between the colonies; • A common English/European heritage; • principle of self-government, white male suffrage; • Voice/control over taxation; autonomy of local government, cheap land; no real aristocracy; land of opportunity—slowly becoming American rather than remaining British.

Revolutionary Era now Begins • Treaty of Paris is signed 1763; also the Proclamation of 1763 is passed and is to be enforced by British troops now in control of the abandoned French Forts; • Most troops go home—cannot protect American land speculators—British do not care want to honor the Indian treaties—no more westward expansion—also demanded that America help pay off the large war debt incurred on their behalf.