Empire Toward Independence Part One

Week Four Video Lecture on British America and the Lead-Up to Conflict with England

Overview of British American Colonies

The purpose of the lecture is to explore the factors and ideas that gradually led to conflict between England and the British American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries. The content begins on the second PowerPoint slide, detailing the various contributing factors including religion, social structures, economics, and governance among the colonies.

Colonial Isolation and Separation

Geographic Separation

In the 17th century, the American colonies existed in relative isolation from one another despite being geographically closer to each other than to England. Factors that played a role in this isolation included:

  • Social Structures: Varied and distinct social frameworks across the colonies influenced interactions.

  • Religion: This was identified as the primary issue separating the colonies, as different religious groups (e.g., Calvinists, Catholics, Quakers) had little interest in intermingling.

  • Government: Differentiated governance structures contributed to the uniqueness of each colony.

  • Economics: Economic activities and trade routes influenced how colonies saw and interacted with one another.

Influence of Major Cities

While major cities in each colony were important centers of influence, their populations remained small, usually accounting for no more than 10% of the total colony population. The majority of colonists were engaged in agriculture. However, cities played a significant role in disseminating ideas and news, primarily communicating back to England.

The Role of Taverns and News Dissemination

Taverns as Social Hubs

By the end of the 17th century, taverns outnumbered other businesses in Colonial America and were heavily clustered in urban centers. They served vital functions including:

  • Mail Delivery: Taverns were locations where residents could pick up their mail.

  • Communication Venues: With limited literacy, taverns typically employed professional readers who would read letters and newly arrived newspapers aloud to patrons, facilitating the spread of information and ideas.

Impact of Enlightenment Ideas

The Enlightenment emerged as a significant intellectual movement characterized by a scientific revolution that, although initially non-religious, began to influence religious and political thought:

  • Sir Isaac Newton: His principles, including the concept of gravity, contributed to the idea of a mechanistic universe governed by natural laws.

  • Reason and Science: Enlightenment thinkers emphasized that the universe operated predictably based on principles understandable by human reason.

Deism and Its Implications

Understanding Deism

Deism, which gained popularity among the educated elite, emerged from the application of Enlightenment ideas to religion. Key characteristics include:

  • God is perceived as a distant creator akin to a clockmaker, having created the universe but remaining uninvolved in human affairs.

  • This belief system made traditional faith and prayer seem irrelevant, as the emphasis shifted to personal action.

Influence on Revolutionary Thought

Leaders of the American Revolution, like Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, adopted deist principles, reinforcing the notion that change must be actively sought rather than passively awaited from divine intervention.

Religious Pushback and Predominating Views

Calvinism and Opposition to Enlightenment Ideas

Religious leaders, particularly Calvinists like Jonathan Edwards, responded aggressively to the Enlightenment and Deism:

  • Jonathan Edwards: A prominent figure who revolutionized ministry through emotional sermons emphasizing the reality of damnation. His famous sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, vividly illustrated the urgency of faith. An excerpt captures his style:

"God holds you over the pit of hell much as one holds a spider or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you and is dreadfully provoked. He looks upon you as worthy of nothing else but to be cast into the fire."

Franklin’s Encounter with Edwards

Benjamin Franklin, a deist himself, attended Edwards’ sermon, leading to a significant experience where he ended up donating his grandfather's pocket watch due to the emotional impact of the sermon.

Governance and Self-Regulation in the Colonies

British Laissez-Faire Approach

British colonies had a unique governance dynamic, exercising self-rule with minimal interference from the Crown. This light governance can be attributed to:

  • The reluctance of British authorities to establish a costly colonial bureaucracy.

  • The perception that colonial citizens felt sufficiently loyal to the British monarchy.

Navigation Acts and Colonial Response

The introduction of the Navigation Acts, particularly under Oliver Cromwell's rule, aimed to control colonial trade:

  • The first act in 1651 required all goods imported into British lands to be carried on English ships, mandating that 51% crew be English. Over time, stricter versions further limited trade.

  • Initial responses from colonists were celebratory, viewing the acts as beneficial for British prosperity.

Conflicts Over Enforcement

  • Enforcements of these laws were infrequent due to the costs associated with compliance checks, resulting in widespread non-compliance in many colonies.

  • Massachusetts Bay Colony, however, took a particularly strong stand, formally declaring the Navigation Acts had no legal standing within the colony's jurisdiction.

Transition to Royal Control and Backlash

Royal Governance Under Andros

With the ascension of James II and the establishment of the Dominion of New England, control tightened:

  • Edmund Andros, the royal governor, introduced taxation without the consent of elected officials, causing discontent among colonists who felt deprived of their British rights.

Public Sentiment and Resistance

Colonial pushback was fueled by resentment toward direct oversight that circumvented local governance structures. Popular dislike of Andros was notably heightened due to his revocation of local laws against festive celebrations, revealing a complex relationship with religious and economic freedoms.

The Glorious Revolution and Its Effects

In 1688, the Glorious Revolution in England led to significant changes:

  • James II was ousted, with Mary and William of Orange taking power. This shift led to the establishment of a Bill of Rights and the Act of Toleration in 1689, which impacted colonial attitudes despite distance.

  • The fall of Andros and the return of self-rule in Massachusetts inspired other colonies to follow suit, illustrating the interconnectedness of sentiments between homeland England and the colonies.

Philosophical Foundations of Governance

John Locke and Natural Rights

The political philosophy of John Locke played a formative role in shaping American political ideas:

  • Two Treatises of Government (1690): The first treatise dismantles the notion of the divine right of kings, arguing instead for a social contract where rulers protect the natural rights of individuals.

  • Natural Rights: Locke articulates that governments must uphold life, liberty, and property rights, and when they fail, the populace is justified in overthrowing them.

Transition from Religious to Property-Based Citizenship

The English Toleration Act altered voting rights in the colonies, shifting the determinant of citizenship from religious affiliation to property ownership, allowing a greater portion of the population to participate in governance.

Conclusion

In the colonies, the evolution of governance began as customary self-rule and transformed into a perceived right, setting the stage for future conflicts leading to American independence. Upcoming lectures will explore interactions with French America and further developments in the lead-up to the revolutionary conflict.