Trade Wars and Colonial Rebellion

Mercantile Empires Mercantilism: basic idea is to bring profit (bullion) to the mother nation Britain, France, Netherlands and Spain were the greatest powers Britain-North Atlantic seaboard, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland France-Saint Lawrence, Ohio and Mississippi River valleys Spanish-all of South America except for Brazil Dutch-South Africa, and Indonesia (Dutch East Indies)

Treaty of Utrecht (1713) Set the boundaries of European Empires Spain South America, portions of North America, Caribbean Great Britain North America, islands in the Caribbean, trade stations in India France Portion of North America (Canada). Islands in Caribbean, stations in India and Africa Dutch Dutch Guiana, trading stations in Southern Africa, India, controlled trade with Java

France vs. Britain Centers of rivalry North America- fishing rights, fur trade, and alliances with Native Americans West Indies- Sugar, tobacco, cotton, indigo, coffee

India India- trade company competition East India Company vs. Compagnie des Indes Trading posts in India (factories) Both companies leveraged for control as several Indian state governments collapsed Joseph Dupleix for France Robert Clive for Britain

Mid-18 th Century Wars

War of Jenkins Ear Underlying Reasons Trade rivalry, smuggling, Spanish searching English vessels Immediate Reason- Spanish cut off ear of English captain Robert Jenkins, Used as example of Spanish atrocities British planters lobbied Parliament to stop the Spanish PM Walpole succumbed to pressure. Britain went to war. Results- Start of series of European wars

War of Austrian Succession Underlying Reasons Frederick II of Prussia seizes Austrian area of Silesia Broke the Pragmatic Sanctions Prussia treated Hapsburgs as just another state.

War of Austrian Succession Immediate Reasons Debate over Maria Theresa’s right to rule as a woman Empress Maria Theresa wanted to preserve Hapsburg power Promised privileges to nobles Recognized Hungary

War of Austrian Succession Strategies Southwest Germany, the Low Countries and Italy- major areas of battle Prussia used a professional army

War of Austrian Succession Results France was pulled in by supporting Prussia Great Britain pulled in to keep Low Countries in Austrian ownership France and Spain vs. Great Britain in New World Stalemate- Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle Prussia kept Silesia Britain kept slavery privilege with Spanish colonies

Diplomatic Revolution Underlying Reasons Struggles in North America Britain and Prussia- Convention of Westminister Defensive Alliance against France Austria and France sign an alliance in response.

Seven Years War ( ) Underlying Reasons Defensive strategy of the Convention of Westminister

Seven Years War ( ) Immediate Reasons Frederick II invaded Saxony France and Austria allied against Prussia, Sweden, Russia and a variety of German states Britain gave Prussia financial aid, enters the war against France.

Seven Years War ( ) Strategies Frederick makes peace with Russia, allows Prussia to stalemate Austria and France William Pitt (the Elder) provided funds to Prussia, to distract France in North America France unwilling to put major resources in N.A. British capture French West Indies Sugar money support war effort British defeat France in India Leads to eventual conquest of India

Seven Years War ( ) Results Treaty of Paris –1763 Britain receives Canada, returns French West Indies and parts of India HRE now relied on Hungary for its power France lost its colonial dominance British become a world power

The American Revolution British had two problems after Seven Years War Cost of maintaining the empire The management of the new territories gained from France Parliament had to find new forms of revenue

Funding Sources 1764 Sugar Act Attempted to collect tax revenue and cut down on smuggling Stamp Act Tax on legal documents and other items Money was to be used in the Colonies Colonies protested (Stamp Act Congress, Sons of Liberty) Declaratory Act Gave Parliament the power to legislate the colonies

Crisis and Independence Charles Townshend Chancellor of the Exchequer Helped Parliament pass series of revenue acts Sent new officials to enforce the new laws and troops to protect the officials The result- The Boston Masscre

Tea and Intolerable Tea Act passed Direct import of tea into colonies Lowered tax, but the tax was without colonial consent Intolerable Acts passed Controlled by PM Lord North Series of laws to take control of the colonies

Congresses and the War st Continental Congress in Philadelphia Advocated self government of colonies April Fighting breaks out May nd Continental Congres- Started to conduct the business of the colonies August George II declares colonies to be in rebellion From Open Fighting between Americans and British troops France and Spain supported the rebellion

American Political Ideas Took ideas from The English Revolution of 1688 John Locke English Commonwealthmen John Trenchard Thomas Gordon Both criticized the government patronage of Walpole – corrupt and undermined liberty

Britain during the Revolution George III had gone through a series of PM’s in an attempt to gain influence The case of John Wilkes gave the colonists an anti-monarchy stance Wilkes critical of Lord Bute Arrested and thrown out of Parliament Attempted to return to Parliament but was refused initially

Parliamentary Reform Yorkshire Association Movement Demanded moderate changes to elections Organized groups in other areas of England Wanted to reform the entire government Fell apart due to lack of popular support Did result in less power for the crown Eliminated some patronage Under the leadership of PM William Pitt the Younger, there was some attempt at reform, but it failed

Impact of the American Revolution Established a government based on popular sovereignty rather than divine law Rejection of social status- anti-aristocracy