Was 1763 a turning point in British-colonial relations? Lesson plan for August 28, 2007: Warm-up question, F&I War ppt notes, Salutary Neglect activity.

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

French & English Mercantilist Wars

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… Queen Anne’s War was War of Spanish Succession; King George’s War was War of Austrian Succession While the British colonies were militarily superior to New France, a lack of colonial unity & French alliances with Native Americans weakened colonial advantages

…these wars led to a land frenzy in the 175s, 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 1st political cartoon

Turning Point: 1754 In 1754, VA governor sent 22 year old George 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 badly 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

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 Suspicions in colonies & England that George wished to enlarge his powers (appt of chief minister Bute & others) Bute was appointed Chief Minister of England because he got along with George, no other reason. Parliament was furious. Eventually Bute resigned & George was fickle in his appointments—often changing chief ministers leaving England with no clear plan for gov’t. Left England in precarious state & colonies largely ignored during this time. 3

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 4

Two Theories of Representation What was the extent of Parliament’s authority over the colonies? How could the colonies accept the decisions of Parliament when they did not have representation in that body? Absolute? OR Limited?

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 6

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) (Senecas, Ottowas, Miamis, Creeks, Cherokees)

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