Imperialism in America and the French and Indian War

Imperialism and the Mercantile System

• Under the mercantile system:

  • Colonies are vital to mother countries like Great Britain, France, and Spain.

  • Colonies provide food and raw materials to the mother country.

  • Colonies serve as markets for the mother country's goods.

  • The primary purpose of colonies is to enhance the financial status of the mother country.

Colonists' Status and Rights

• Colonists benefit from:

  • English military protection.

  • Guaranteed markets for their raw materials and food.

• Colonists are considered citizens but lack full rights of citizenship.

  • They cannot vote for representatives in Parliament.

  • They can vote in local elections but have no representation in Parliament.

British Control and Salutary Neglect

• Initially, Britain did not fully exploit the colonies due to distractions at home, such as the English Civil War.

• Navigation Acts:

  • Passed to control colonial trade for the benefit of Great Britain.

  • Aimed to limit trade with other countries like Spain and France.

  • Ensured the use of English ships for trade.

• Salutary Neglect:

  • Despite the Navigation Acts, the colonies experienced a period of salutary neglect, where laws were not strictly enforced.

Increased British Control

• Charles II established the Lords of Trade to enforce trade laws in the colonies.

• Massachusetts Bay was notorious for violating the Navigation Acts through smuggling.

• The Lords of Trade annulled the Massachusetts charter, leading to the creation of the Dominion of New England.

Dominion of New England

• James II succeeded Charles II and supported the Dominion of New England.

• Edmund Andros was appointed as the governor of the Dominion of New England.

  • He was a professional soldier and former governor of New York.

  • The Dominion included Massachusetts Bay, Connecticut, Plymouth, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, and part of Maine.

• Andros's Actions:

  • Imposed taxes without legislative consent.

  • Ended trial by jury.

  • Abolished the General Court of Massachusetts.

  • Prohibited town meetings in Boston.

  • Challenged the validity of land titles.

The Glorious Revolution in England

• James II, a Catholic, issued the Declaration of Indulgence, granting religious freedom.

• English Protestants feared that James II was trying to protect Catholics and seize absolute power.

• Protestant leaders invited William of Orange and his wife Mary (James's Protestant daughter) to invade England.

• James II abdicated the throne to William and Mary, resulting in a bloodless victory for Protestantism.

Impact on the Colonies

• The Dominion of New England staged their own glorious revolution, imprisoning Andros and retaking control.

• The Glorious Revolution set a precedent for revolution against monarchs.

John Locke's Influence

• John Locke published Two Treatises on Government, arguing for natural rights to life, liberty, and property.

• Locke's Argument:

  • People are endowed with natural rights to life, liberty, and property.

  • If rulers violate these rights, the people have the right to overthrow the monarch.

• Colonists adopted Locke's arguments to justify their actions.

The French and Indian War (Seven Years' War)

• One of four major European wars, fought between Great Britain and France for control of North America.

• The French had Indian allies, but it was not a war solely between the French and the Indians.

• French controlled the Ohio Valley, while the English controlled the Eastern seaboard.

• France sought trade relationships and established forts, while the English expanded westward, challenging French control.

Conflict and Early Stages

• English expansion led to clashes with the French military.

• The British military was supported by colonists.

• Early in the war, the French seemed likely to win due to their effective fighting tactics in the American wilderness.

• The British initially used European fighting methods, which were ineffective.

British Buildup and Iroquois Confederacy

• Britain increased its military presence in the colonies.

• Britain sought to gain Indian allies or ensure their neutrality.

• The Iroquois Confederacy initially remained neutral but eventually allied with Britain as the British military buildup increased.

British Victory and the Peace of Paris

• British victories at Quebec and Montreal marked the end of the war in North America.

• Fighting continued in the Caribbean for three more years.

• The Peace of Paris in 1763 ended French power in North America.

• Terms of the Treaty:

  • Britain gained territory east of the Mississippi River.

  • Spain gained New Orleans and the Louisiana territory west of the Mississippi River.

  • Spain gave Florida to Britain.

Consequences of the War

• The war paved the way for the American Revolution.

• Colonial assemblies gained power by bargaining with royal governors.

• The war trained military and political leaders who became key figures in the American Revolution, such as George Washington, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Patrick Henry.

• Colonists developed a new sense of identity, questioning the advantages and disadvantages of British control, and contemplating self-government.