America - chapter 1

What did the British farm in the 1740s?

Tobacco was the key crop

How was the Native relation with the French and the British in the early periods (in relation to customs)?

• The British adopted fewer customs

• The French adopted more and raided british borders with the Natives

What was the population of the British colonies?

1 million

How many (and what size) seaports did the British have?

5 seaports of reasonable size

How was the religious tolerance in the British colonies as opposed to the French and Spanish colonies?

The British colonies had higher religious tolerance compared to the other two

Why was there rapid economic growth in the British colonies?

Due to population increase and farming

How many people migrated to the British colonies from 1700-1763?

4000,000

For some of the settlers, why did they come to the British colonies?

To escape religious persecution
They feared that the Spanish and the French would join to reduce the dominant influence of the British

What was the dominant religion in the british colonies?

none

What did the French colonies supply France with in the early period?

with raw materials (especially fish and fur)

How many French settlers were there in the early period?

60,000

How was the religious tolerance in French colonies?

Low due to reluctance of letting non-Catholics in

how was the settlement and development of the Spanish colonies?

Low settlement + slow development

How was the religious tolerance of the Spanish colonies?

Low due to reluctance of letting non-Catholics in

why were the Spanish colonies not seen as a threat?

because of their size, location and power

How much did the economy grow by between 1650-1740?

3% per year

Why did economy increase between 1650-1740?

Because of trade between Britain and the colonies and trade between the colonies

What is mercantilism?

having the colony or colonies provide only to the motherland and can only trade with them

How did the economy within the colonies begin to develop as the industries developed?

the textiles, iron production and shipbuilding enterprises began to emerge

What contributed to the economy increase in the colonies?

• emerging enterprises

• more land available to farm crops (esp tobacco in the south) for export

• Growing prosperity led to ‘Consumer Revolution’ → many colonists buying more and better goods from Britain.

how did mercantilism benefit the British?

Britain could collect customs duties on enumerated goods that were sent from America to Britain before they were shipped onwards.

How was mercantilism upheld?

Mercantilism upheld by Navigation Acts ; only English ships can carry colonial goods and these ships had to be mainly crewed by the English

What restricting laws did Britain pass?

Britain also passed laws restricting manufacturing of goods, such as woollen yarn and cloth, beaver hats and iron.

Why did Britain's restricting laws not cause anger?  (during the early period)

• they were loosely enforced

• duties were rarely collected

• deputies were open to bribery

• smuggling fluorished

Why did the colonists support mercantilism?

it provided them with a protected market in Britain and the wider empire + american ships benefitted from exclusion of foreign ships from trade (as they would have to do business with eo)

What % of the population farmed?

Approximately 90% of the population farmed in colonial America.

What was the mainstay and trade product in the middle and southern colonies?

Tobacco and grain crops and wheat and flour were the main staples and trade products in the middle and southern colonies.

what happened to tobacco's value from the 1670s to 1775?

Value of tobacco rose from £14 million in 1670s to £100 million by 1775

What happened as a result of New England having poor soil?

• Fishermen exploited the rich seas around Newfoundland and Nova Scotia

• They fished plenty of cod which was then dried and exported

• New England also had a trade with the French and British West Indies → brought in sugar and molasses which were then distilled into rum.

Who were the colonial elites in the colonial society?

They were wealthy landowners, merchants, and political leaders who held significant power and influence in colonial society.

Who were below the colonial elites in the colonial society? 

1. Professionals, property-holding farmers and craftsmen

2. Labourers (worked for others or rented land) 20% of male population

3. Slaves (mostly in the South)

How were the different classes represented in the colonial society?

• middle society was overrepresented : 

• (many bought land when it was cheap) and the poor and aristocrats were underrepresented. 

What was the Great Awakening and what did it evoke?

The ‘Great Awakening’ emphasised relationship between individual and God → may have encouraged egalitarian/democratic spirit (which helped fire opposition against the British later on)

What feeling was there in the British colonies regarding religion?

Tolerant but anti-catholic

Compare the literacy rates of Britain against the colonies'

the colonies' literacy rates were 15% higher than Britain's by 1763 - more emphasis on education

What effect did education have in terms of affecting people's reception to new ideas?

it increased their reception to new ideas

a possible sign of enlightenment ideas spreading 

Growth in number of printing presses and bookshops

Why was Britain's relations with the settlers strong in 1740 (religion)?

Because of fear of the Catholic France

How did the Crown have control over the governors of the crown colonies?

the governors could be appointed and dismissed at any time by the crown

What were the colonial assemblies responsible for?

• Advising the governor

• Initiating legislation to raise money

• Controlling spending

• Representing the communities

• Approving local legislation laws

How were the colonial assemblies chosen?

The colonial assemblies were elected and were somewhat democratic (50-80% of white men could vote - based on property ownership → so wealth and high social standing was often seen in office)

Could the colonial assemblies have a say in laws passed -- if so how?

• Colonies could pass laws but these had to be approved by the Privy Council

→ ultimate legislative authority laid with the British

What's salutary neglect?

ditching the colony so it can reign itself. It did make the colonies think that they weren’t fully under British control.

How was the relationship between the colonies and the British by 1763?

good -- not at risk of breakdown

how was the british relationship with the native americans?

• British settlers didn’t adopt Native customs

• the British did not trust the Natives

• british settlers moving into the Seaboard caused the natives to move further inland over the Appalachian mountains

• Braddock called the Natives ‘savages’ in the Seven Years War which led to the natives supporting French → The French were able to do guerilla warfare (which allowed attacks by small unseen bands against the large British force.)

Why was the native's relationship with the French better?

• The French adopted their customs

• The natives saw the French as a source of trade

When did the British realise the importanc of the native americans?

in the 1754 Albany Congress + it became clear in the 7YW

When did relations with the natives improve during the 7YW?

Relations improved as the British began winning the Seven Years War & the Natives began to see the British as more likely to provide rewards and trade

When was the War of Austrian Succession?

1740 - 1748

What did the colonists see the 7YW as?

The colonists saw it as an opportunity to drive out the French and Spanish

Why did the Americans have an advantage over the French in the 7YW?

• large number of troops (15:1)

• French inability to supply their troops because of the superiority of the British navy

Who did the French have the support of during most of the 7YW?

The Native Americans

When was Louisbourg taken from the French?

1745

why was Louisbourg important?

it controlled the passage to Quebec and St Lawrence River

When was the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle?

1748, ending the War of the Austrian Succession.

When was Louisbourg returned to France? Why?

in 1748, as part of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle 1748

Which area did both the French and the British want to take control of post-7YW?

Ohio Valley (The west of the Appalachian Mountains)

When was the Albany Congress?

June 1754

What was the Albany Congress?

→ meeting of colonial delegates to discuss a joint Native American policy (June 1754)

What were the Virginia speculators granted in 1754? Possible consequence?

20,000 acres of land in the Ohio Valley by the British government.
This guaranteed conflict with the French.

What did the British begin to build after the 7YW?

The British established the Loyal Land Company, the Ohio Company of Virginia, and began to build a chain of forts between Lake Erie and Allegheny River.

What happened in May 1754?

Virginian forces sent under Washington to stop the French but by the time they arrived, the French had already taken over the area and renamed Fort George into Fort Duquesne.

Why was Fort George/Duquesne not taken back by the British?

Because Washington surrendered in the Battle of Jumonville Glen and so the fort was not recaptured

What was the four-pronged attack?

The four-pronged attack was to secure the border.

BRADDOCK: sent to secure Ohio Valley but failed to get Fort Duquesne or Ohio Valley

Attack on Fort Niagara failed

Fort Oswego fell to the French as well

Nova Scotia Campaign

What was the result of the four-pronged attack during WoAS?

all except the Nova Scotia campaign failed. (Fort Duquesne and Fort Niagara lost to the French)

How did the Nova Scotia campaign succeed?

Nova Scotia campaign had some success with Forts Beausejour and Gasperau captured

→ so french settlers were removed and so they couldn’t aid the French.

What were the reasons for the British unsuccesses during the WoAS?

• Not used to fighting in remote and hostile environment

• Red uniforms = easy targets

• Failed to adjust to the type of warfare, unlike the French

• Failed to secure Native American support because the Natives believed they would get greater rewards if they fought for the French

• Colonial troops were not good enough + could desert

• Civil administrators lacked military expertise

When was the 7 Years War?

1756 - 1763

What were the British failures in the 7YW?

• 1756    Fort Oswego on Lake Ontario lost

• 1757    Fort William Henry on Lake George lost

What were the consequences of the 7YW?

• Britain captured Canada from the French after the fall of Quebec in 1759 and Montreal in 1760

• Gained all French possessions west of Mississippi

• Acquired Florida from Spain

Thus, Britain dominated the eastern coast and French presence was removed from North America.

• Relationship between the settlers and Britain changed as there was no more French threat.

When was the fall of Quebec?

The fall of Quebec occurred in 1759 during the 7 Years War, marking a significant victory for the British.

When was the fall of Montreal?

The fall of Montreal occurred in 1760, effectively ending French colonial rule in North America.

What were the successes during the 7YW?

• Naval supremacy ; SUCCESS ; though matched by the Native support for the French

• Relations with Native Americans improved

• Expansion into Ohio valley

• Capture of Louisbourg

• Nova Scotia

• Fort Duquesne

• Support of the colonists

How did the War of Austrian Succession begin?

started as a European conflict and spread to America

How was the success for the British during the WoAS?

British success was limited

Who did most of the fighting during the WoAS and why?

Britain was unable to send troops so colonial militia did most of the fighting + capturing of Louisbourg (1745) which was handed back in the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) 

How did the British navy play a part in the WoAS?

British navy prevented France and Spain from sending reinforcements to colonists in America

Why did the 7YW break out?

The Seven Years' War (7YW) broke out due to escalating tensions between British and French colonial interests, particularly over territory in North America and trade routes, leading to conflicts that spread globally. (in 1754)

When did William Pitt become the secretary?

William Pitt became the Secretary of State in 1757 during the Seven Years' War.

What happened in 1759?

 French navy beaten in the Battle of Quiberon Bay

What happened in 1760?

Capture of Canada completed once Montreal was taken

What treaty happened in 1763?

The Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the Seven Years' War and ceding Canada and territory east of the Mississippi River to Britain.

What did William Pitt do that helped win the war?

deployed 25,000 troops under General Amherst and Wolfe

→ developed the 3-pronged-attack to attack Louisbourg, Ticonderoga and Quebec to take Fort Duquesne so that the British can re-establish power on the Ohio river.

What did William Pitt have control over?

British military strategy during the Seven Years' War, including resource allocation and troop deployments and policy.

What was William Pitt's priority?

→ priority was defeating French in America and the Caribbean

How did William Pitt attempt to gain colonial support?

• Changed policy of British official taking precedence 

• Ensured Crown paid for equipment, provisioning the colonial militias and etc

War seen as a shared endeavour

What showed Pitt's success in securing colonial support?

• The Crown deployed 45,000 troops by 1758– half of whom were colonial volunteers.

• Loudon (the previous commander) could only raise 7000 troops in 1758 + mutiny

• Pitt had the colonial assemblies agree to 20,000 provincial soldiers 

Which people did Pitt bring in?

Pitt brought in Howe, Amherst and Wolfe

What Act did Pitt pass and what did it entail?

Militia Act 1757 : local militia to protect Britain against possible French invasion

How did Pitt use finances to ensure British forces focused on North America?

• To focus British forces in North America, Pitt paid Frederick of Prussia to attack French forces in Europe

→ France unable to send reinforcements to America as they’re busy

Under whom did the British naval forces patrol the English channel?

Hawke and Boscawen

Why did the naval forces patrol the English Channel?

To prevent French reinforcements from reaching their troops in North America and to safeguard British shipping routes.

How did Lord Anson make the policy of patrolling the English Coast to prevent supply possible?

• Increased the navy size  + built up the force for naval superiority 

→ allowed Louisbourg seizure in 1758

• Overwhelming superiority (with 18,000 sailors and 100+ ships) allowed Quebec to be taken.

What did Admiral Hawke's victory at Queberon Bay in November 1759 ensure?

It ensured that French aid reaching America was impossible

Why did the French fail to retake Quebec in 1760? 

Their resources were depleted, and they faced strong British defenses, including reinforcements and strategic strongholds and because the British sent reinforcements from Louisbourg up the St Lawrence River.

When was Admiral Hawke's victory in Queberon Bay?

November 1759

Other than their size, what was another reason the British were able to achieve naval superiority?

The French had scaled down their navy after the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle 1748

What was the importance of the Native Americans throughout the 7YW?

• at the start: the Native Americans helped the French

• towards the end:  the British cultivated a friendship

Why were the British able to gain Native support towards the end of the 7YW?

Support was easy to gain after naval superiority was secured as the prestige of British colonies grew and the Natives looked to them rather than the French.

→ supply with goods

How was colonial support gained + its role in the 7YW

Colonial support was gained through promises of land expansion and protection from Native American attacks, playing a crucial role in building military strength for the British

and Issue of precedence lessened colonial enthusiasm

• Pitt’s reversal of the policy + financial commitments generated enthusiasm again

• Colonial troops contributed to building roads and forts.