European Imperialism and Social Transformation - Part 2

Seven Years' War (1756-1763)

  • Began in Europe but spread to India and North America.
  • British vs. French: Ended in a stalemate in Europe, but had huge repercussions for colonies.
  • India: Robert Clive pushed the French out, establishing British rule. India became the "crown jewel" of the British Empire until after WWII.
  • North America: Significant repercussions leading to American Revolution.

North America Before the Seven Years' War (c. 1750)

  • Original 13 British colonies occupied a small strip of land along the Atlantic seaboard.
  • French colony of New France occupied most of the interior of North America.
  • English settlers feared French attacks from the west.
  • Constant on-and-off warfare between British colonies and the French.

French Expansion in the Ohio River Valley (Early 1750s)

  • French built military forts and outposts along the Ohio River Valley.
  • Ohio River Valley located in the back country of Virginia.
  • Virginians grew nervous and paranoid.
  • In 1754, Virginia governor dispatched militia to establish a small fort.
  • French attacked and defeated the Virginia militia, building Fort Duquesne.

Fort Duquesne

  • The French built a large palisaded fort (walls of sharpened tree trunks) at the location.
  • Response: Young Virginia militia officer George Washington attacked the French at Fort Duquesne.
  • Washington suffered losses and surrendered to the French.
  • British General Sir Thomas Gage sent with a detachment but was killed in a battle against the French.

Colonial Disunity

  • The 13 British colonies didn't see themselves as having much in common.
  • Unique economies, political systems, and regional identities.
  • Colonies were unwilling to provide mutual military support (e.g., the Carolinas and Georgia not wanting to help Virginia).

William Pitt's Incentives (1756-1757)

  • New British Prime Minister William Pitt incentivized colonial assistance.
  • Promise: Any colony that helped in the Seven Years' War would receive reimbursement by the British government for wartime expenditures.
  • Turning point: More unified colonial resistance due to promised reimbursement.
  • Result: Great Britain eventually defeated France and eliminated French presence in North America.

Treaty of Paris (1763) and its Consequences

  • Formally ended the Seven Years' War.
  • Britain gained control of New France (Canada) and the Midwest.
  • British ousted the French as a threat to the mainland North American colonies.

King George III and George Grenville (1765)

  • King George III appointed George Grenville as Prime Minister.
  • Grenville believed the North American colonists had benefited the most from the Seven Years' War.
  • Grenville argued that colonists should help pay for the war debt.
  • Problem: Grenville reversed William Pitt's promise and refused to reimburse wartime costs.

The Stamp Act

  • Parliament implemented the Stamp Act, requiring a tax stamp on any printed material in the colonies for it to be legal.
  • First time Parliament directly taxed the colonies.
  • Colonies protested, arguing "no taxation without representation" due to lack of representation in Parliament.
  • Debate over virtual vs. direct representation.

Repeal of the Stamp Act and the Declaratory Act

  • Grenville was replaced, and Lord Rockingham repealed the Stamp Act; however along with that repeal,
  • He included Declaratory Act.
  • The Declaratory Act stated that Parliament had the authority to legislate and tax the colonies in all cases whatsoever.
  • More tensions emerged as a result, taxes continued to be levied. (Township Duties)

Tea Act (1773)

  • The tea tax was the only remaining township duty.
  • Parliament passed the Tea Act to save the British East India Company from bankruptcy.
  • The Tea Act stated that all tea in America could only legally be sold by agents of the East India Company.
  • granted the East India Company a complete monopoly on the tea trade in the colonies.
  • Patriots saw the act as an attempt by parliament to assert its authority to impose taxes on the colony.

Boston Tea Party

  • Plans to resist tea shipments existed throughout the colonies, but confrontation only occurred in Boston.
  • Patriots guarded ships to prevent offloading, while Governor Hutchinson forbade ships from leaving.
  • Cargo had to be unloaded and duties paid within 20 days, or cargo would be seized and sold at auction.
  • 5,000 people met at Old South Church led by Samuel Adams and disguised as Indians, boarded tea ships, and dumped tea into Boston Harbor.

Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts) - 1774

  • Parliament responded harshly to the Boston Tea Party.
  • These acts were designed to punish the colonies.
    • Port Act:
      • Ordered immediate closure of Boston Harbor until dumped tea was paid for in full (millions of dollars).
      • Exceptions for coastal trade and necessities (food, firewood).
    • Massachusetts Government Act:
      • Modified colonial charter.
      • Replaced elected council with royally appointed one.
      • Increased powers of royally appointed governor.
        • Abolished town hall meetings.
    • Justice Act:
      • A person accused of committing murder in suppressing a riot or enforcing laws could be tried outside the colony.
    • Quartering Act:
      • British officers could seize private buildings and homes to house soldiers.
        *The Quebec Act grants increased religious freedom to Catholics within Quebec.
        Colonists in the 13 colonies had hoped that they could eventually occupy.

Colonial Response to the Intolerable Acts

  • Many patriots saw the Quebec Act as another punitive measure that was meant to suppress their liberties and encroach on their freedoms.
  • Boston Committee of Correspondents urged a boycott of British goods.
  • Colonies suggested an intercolonial congress to determine a unified response.
  • American colonists still saw themselves as part of the British Empire and were not necessarily seeking revolution or independence.

Committees of Observation (Early 1775)

  • These committees had started to establish militias who were preparing to resist the British if necessary.
  • British decided to march on militia armory at Concord, Massachusetts, to confiscate colonial militia supplies

Lexington and Concord (April 14, 1775)

  • General Sir Thomas Gage departed Boston to seize the armory at Concord.
  • Patriots (e.g., Paul Revere), alerted the militiamen/Minutemen throughout the countryside of British movements.
    *Before the British got to Concord, they first had to pass through a town called Lexington.
  • At Lexington, British encounter about 70 colonial militiamen.
  • British Open fire, and they killed eight Minutemen.. This is noted at as the first shots being fired at Lexington,
    *The residents of Concord, Massachusetts,they had heard news of the conflict out Lexington and the local militia mustered along with reinforcements from all of the nearby villages.
  • The Redcoats under Gage's command marched to Concord and were faced with heavy resistance at the bridge.
  • Gage ordered a retreat, and the Minutemen converged on the British during their march back to Boston.
  • Minutemen encircled Boston.
    *Gage and his men was finally able to successfully route colonial forces from their positions surrounding Boston.
    *neither side really knew how to react

Articles of Confederation (National Government)

*Continental Congress, which the the ad hoc, wartime government.
*national government was essentially led simply by the legislature.
*unicameral legislature, meaning it's a legislative body that consists of one house rather than two houses, which would be, more synonymous with a bicameral legislature
*all states received equal representation in the unicameral congress of the articles of confederation
*strong national government might trample on the sovereignty of the individual states.
*the congress is rather weak. And it doesn't, for example, have the power to tax the states, raise revenue from the states.
*it doesn't really have the ability to compel states to abide by treaties that it's negotiated with foreign governments
*does not have the authority to regulate interstate commerce.
*** the printing of more currency, which led to widespread inflation
*to curb the massive inflation during the war, Congress stopped printing currency and attempted to fund the national government simply, by using money that the states voluntarily contributed to the national government.
*established a Department of Finance
mENDMENT. Allow a national tax of of 5% on all imported goods to help fund the national government

Shays's Rebellion

Many people witnessing what had just happened with Shay's rebellion believe that the national government's inability to take decisive action in Shay's rebellion, either fiscally or militarily, demonstrated its inherent weakness under the Articles of Confederation.

James Madison Preparation

he was one of the strongest supporters of reforming the Articles of Confederation
and prepared paper and brought personal library (200 books)

Virgina Plan

Edmund Randolph proposed
This new national government, would have a bicameral legislature. The lowers house would be, directly elected by the people.
*Representation of states, both house as proportional to state population. So called a big, big State plan.
*Congress elect the executive and be a national judiciary body. Congress has the authority to video state laws.
*Delegates of the smaller state did not support the Virginia plan in said, then there resulted in response from
William Patterson.

New Jersy Plan

*William Patterson of New Jersey proposed.
Each state would have an equal vote. And Congress would be granted the authority to levy taxes and to regulate trade.

Great Compromise

Delegates agreed on forming a plan for a new government that was a compromise between the Virginia and New Jersey plans.
delegates finally decided that the lower house should be called the House of Representatives.
The Senators were to be elected by state legislator. State would have two senators representing in their new government.

Constitution: What It Said
Delegates agreed that each state should have the authority to levy taxes as well as to regulate foreign and interstate commerce.
necessary and proper clause
supremacy Clause ARTICLE SIX (CONSTITUTION)

For an AMENDMENT two thirds vote of Congress three quarters and state must approve the AMENDMENT.
Primary authority conducting foreign affair to the head of the executive branch name, the president
Constitution, does not specific limit the amount of Terms