APStudent.com II. English Involvement in the Colonies Colonies were left almost independent until 1690 (Restoration in England) Colonial economics: Triangle Trade Caribbean (molasses) -> to colonies (rum) -> to Africa (slaves) -> Caribbean (molasses) Northern colonies economy: Shipbuilding, distilling, various industry, only small farming Southern colonies economy: Cash crops - tobacco, rice, indigo, cotton Great Awakening (1730-40) - Methodism (John Wesley) Inspired by Moravians Sense of piety, but no Puritan elect Democratic Involved many different colonies working together Glorious Revolution (in England) James II ousted, William & Mary took throne No children, so crown went to Hannovers: Anne, George I-III Brough imperialism, more control over colonies Colonial government before war: 1686-1692 - Dominion of New England Massachusetts & other New England colonies unified under Gov. Andros Ended when James II ousted Plymouth & Massachusetts combined 1707 - Privy council given authority over colonial assemblies 1754 - Albany Convention Proposal for unified government in colonies Only northern and middle colonies attended Would have combined some colonial independence with some federal control Never put into effect Seven Year's War / French & Indian War Iroquois worried about English expansion into Ohio Valley, allied with French Phase I - little British involvement, colonials losing to Iroquois 1754 - Ohio Valley (French & Iroquois vs. English) Fort Necessity (Washington & Virgina army) vs. Fort Dusquesne Washington's surrender Phase II - British involvement 1756 - England allied with Prussia 1757 - William Pitt became Sec. of State Brought war under British control Drafted colonials, sparking riots Phase III - war turned over to colonial legislatures (1758), colonials start winning 1759 - James Wolfe captured Quebec, turning point in war 1760 - French in North America surrendered 1760 - George I took throne 1763 - Treaty of Paris France lost Canada & territory E of Mississippi to British France lost New Orleans & territory W of Mississippi to Spain France lost some Caribbean islands to British 1763 - Colonists had own government & army, no longer felt British, Britain decided to bring colonies under federal control 1763 - Proclamation Line - no westward settlement 1763 - Navigation Acts Passed by William Pitt & George III Meant to tax colonies and increase British trade Sugar Act (1764) Enforced tax on molasses Created vice-admiralty courts British judges tried colonials No juries Made it illegal to buy goods from non-British Caribbean colonies Currency Act Outlawed paper colonial money Made colonies dependent on British money Stamp Act (1765, under Prime Minister Grenville) All legal documents had to be on special British paper Caused riots Mutiny Act (1765) Colonials had to provide housing & food for British troops in America Created standing army in colonies (there had never been a standing army in England) When colonies protested acts, British repealed them but replaced them with similar acts Virginia Resolutions - Patrick Henry spoke against Stamp Act Stamp Act Congress (1765) - organized by James Otis Sons of Liberty Organized by James Otis Fomented riots Burned custom houses with the paper 1766 - Parliament repealed Stamp Act, passed Declatory Act Declatory Act (1766) Declared Parliament had power to tax colonies New York Act (1767, under Prime Minister Charles Townshend) Disbanded NY colonial assembly Punishment because NY had not obeyed Mutiny Act Townshend duties Taxed paper, lead, tea, paint (quasi-luxury items) 1768 - Boston Circular Letter urged colonies not to import goods taxed by Townshend duties New York, Boston, Philidelphia agreed to non-importation 1770 - Prime Minister Lord North repealed Townshend duties except for tea tax March 1770 - Boston Massacre British soldiers worked cheap, taking jobs from colonials Colonials provoked soldiers Killing of colonials outraged colonies Political theories Hobbs - need absolute leader to force people to be civilized Locke - contract theory of government 1772 - Gaspee Incident British customs ship ran aground British crew went ashore for help Colonials burned ship and sank it Colonials were tried in England 1773 - Tea Act Gave East India Co. monopoly Made it illegal to buy non-British tea Forced colonists to pay tea tax Dec. 16, 1773 - Boston Tea Party - tea boycott 1774 - Coercive Acts Shut down Boston harbor Disbanded Boston assembly (it moved and restarted) Removed power of colonial courts to arrest royal officers 1774 - Quebec Act Allowed French-Canadians more self-government Gave Canada the Ohio Valley Recognized Roman-Catholic church Made colonists think the king wanted to impose Catholicism on colonies 1772 - Committee of Correspondance Started about Gaspee attackers Protest letters by colonists Sept. 1774 - First Continental Congress Virginia supported Boston against Coercive Acts Concern about how Britain had dissolved NY, Boston, & Virginia assemblies Rejected plan for unified colonial government (Albany Plan) Made statement of grievances against crown Resolution for military preparedness Created Continental Association to inforce non-importation Voted to meet again (made it a continuing organization) Conciliatory Acts (under Prime Minister William Pitt) Cancelled Coercive Acts News did not reach colonies until after Lexington & Concord Lexington & Concord - start of Revolutionary War