Lecture 3 The road to the revolution

AMERICA IN THE BRITISH COLONIAL SYSTEM Colonies develop their own economic and political system New England participates in the global trade networks through the system of the Triangular Trade New England to Slave Coast or West Africa: rum From West Africa to Caribbean: slaves, the voyage is also known as the Middle Passage. During the Middle Passage 3 out of 10 slaves would die, yet it is still good business Mercantilism British approach to the colonies Colonies are not in a core-periphery relationship Britain recognizes colonial economy and trade Protection of British markets from American commerce and goods Navigation Acts The purpose: to protect English trade 1651:All goods imported to England and the colonies must be carried on English ships with a mostly English crew, other acts 1663, 1673 Enforcement of the Navigation Acts: Lords of Trade and Plantations Political developments Self-governing colony The individual colonies developed their own legislatures and executive bodies Legislative branch: Assembly Virginia: Virginia House of Burgesses Massachusetts: Representatives Self-governing colony Governor: appointed by King or Crown Powers: call and suspend assembly, absolute veto over the assembly, controls colonial militia, can appoint judges, create courts Paradoxical situation: while appointed by king, governor has more power than the king as he is limited by the constitutional monarchy Assembly:Elected members Religious qualifications were eliminated in the 17th century Power of the purse, taxation power The power to initiate legislation Assemblies control the salaries of governors Ideological developments Leading idea: contract theory of government Government as a result of a social contract Defining texts: Thomas Hobbes: Leviathan State of nature Life is nasty, brutish, and short a war of all against all People choose a sovereign to protect their lives Political contract John Locke: Two Treatises of Government Introduction of the idea of natural rights 1689: Glorious Revolution in England Relationship between colonies and England is seen as a contract The ideological basis of the American Revolution is established Colonial wars The colonies as part of the British empire were also the sites of the French-English rivalry 1688: William of Orange is invited onto the English throne For religious and political reasons: France becomes the chief opponent of England 1689-1697 King Williams War or Nine Years War

 1701-1713 Queen Annes War or War of the Spanish Succession 1744-1748 King Georges War or War of the Austrian Succession 1754-1763 French and Indian War French and Indian War Clashes between French and Virginia militia 1754 July 4 (!) Washington surrenders Fort Necessity to French 1754 Colonies start to organize themselves Albany Congress Plan of Union was developed by a committee led by Benjamin Franklin Main elements: chief executive appointed by the crown and a supreme assembly called the Grand Council 1756 Seven Years War Two major coalitions England, Prussia and France, Austria, and Russia 1759: Battle of Quebec, turning point, 1760: Fall of Montreal 1763 Treaty of Paris: French power ends in North America (lev.stop) Salutary Neglect 1714-1763 Robert Walpole, Prime Minister Let sleeping dogs lie Colonies develop on their own Colonial economy, ideology, trade The seeds of the revolution Change of British policies after 1763 Proclamation of 1763 1765: Stamp Act No taxation without representation 1766: Repeal of Stamp Act 1767: Townshend Acts 1770: Boston Massacre 1773: Boston Tea Party 1774: Coercive Act, or Intolerable Act England is seen as the archenemy