Period 3 AP Us History

3.2

French and Indian war (1756)- The British and French fought wars for control of territory in the West. American Indians allied with the French against the British to stop colonial expansion. British Victory in 1763 regained control of North America and set them free from attacks of the French. The colonies also began to stand up for their political interests. 

The Seven Years’ War

Wars between Britain, France, and Spain broke out due to the desire of control of colonies(lucrative trade) and power in Europe. Sugar producing islands in Caribbean Sea and fur trading network with Natives were the most valuable. 

King William’s war (1689 to 1697)- British wanted to capture Quebec from French but failed. Natives + the French burned the British Frontier settlements

Queen Anne’s War (1702 to 1713)- British gained trading rights in Spanish America and Nova Scotia from France

King George’s War(1744 to 1748)- Britain captured Louisbourg in Canada, which was a French fortress. Britain returned Louisbourg to French in a peace treaty after war in exchange for political and economic gains in India. Englanders were mad about the loss of Louisbourg as they fought so hard to win it. 

Most of the fighting took place in Europe, Britain and France recognized the value of their colonies for their raw materials they produced. British colonies produced grain, fish, tobacco, lumber to fuel the British Industry. 

Beginning of the war

French provoked war by building forts in the Ohio River valley, so they could prevent westward growth of the British colonies. War began when Washington’s troops surrendered to French + American Indian allies. 

War was initially bad for Britain, Edward Braddock & his colonial troops were routed by French + Native troops, which they then invaded them. 

Albany Plan of Union 1754-  Developed by Benjamin Franklin, proposes to unite the colonies and collect/share taxes between colonies for defense. This failed. 

After conquering Canada, British retook Louisbourg from French. British made a peace treaty with the French. 

Peace Treaty of Paris 1763- Britain acquired French, Canada, and Spanish Florida. Due to Spain’s loss of Florida, French gave up Louisiana to Spain. British dominated power of North America with this treaty, and french control ended. 

In 1757, William Pitt proposed ‘blank check’ which committed Britain to winning the war no matter the cost. This worked and Britain won the war. 

After the war, Britain was in millions of debt and expected the colonists to help pay this debt. Although French stopped attacking british colonies, natives kept attacking which led to Royal Proclamation of 1763- forbade colonial migration into westward territories (because Natives kept attacking)

Outcomes of war:

-Britain became dominant power in North America

-Britain’s war debt is expected to be paid off by the colonists

-Proclamation of 1763 restricted colonial expansion

-Salutary Neglect is over, British adopted more forceful policies of taking control 

Proclamation Line of 1763- reserves land for indians, prohibits colonial expansion past the Appalachian Mountains after the french and indian war to maintain peace with natives frustrated colonists

Britain was in severe debt from the Seven Years’ War due to its military operations, which resulted in Britain abandoning Salutory Neglect and implementing new policies and taxes. This led to colonial resentment, and sparked the American Revolution

3.3

Taxation Without Representation

Colonists wanted to defend practices in Britain of representative government, local self-rule, and individual rights with influence of ideas from the Enlightenment:

The colonies had become self-sufficient and represented Parliamentary-Sovereignty

Parliamentary Sovereignty- British gov. took a strict approach to governing it’s colonies, led to laws and taxes being passed without approval of colonial assemblies.

Colonists couldn’t directly elect representatives to Parliament, so they had no consent to approve or oppose British actions

British responded, “All citizens have virtual representation”, meaning all members of Parliament represented the interests of the entire empire.  (Colonists couldn’t choose/elect for who is in the Parliament)

Parliament laid many taxes and laws to pay off Britain’s debt

The Sugar Act (1764)- Tax on sugar and luxuries, supporters wanted to regulate trade and raise revenue. 

The Quartering Act(1765)- Forced colonists to house British soldiers

The Stamp Act(1765)- Tax on necessary stamps placed on legal docs, newspapers, ads, etc. Direct tax, paid by people in the colonies. People were furious and felt as if they had no representation in Parliament, and boycotted British goods to protest. 

Patriots- People who believed in self-governance and independence over monarchy and aristocracy 

Patriots formed Sons of Liberty to organize and direct colonial outrage

Sons of Liberty- Group of patriots, goal was to oppose and resist unjust British Laws, organize boycotts of British goods, and direct ‘patriotic’ demonstrations

British had a tradition of self-governance, colonists were mad when they lost political sovereignty 

As they repealed the Stamp Act, they proposed The Declaratory Act(1766) which stated that Parliament had the right to tax and make laws for the colonies 

The Townshend Act- Tax on imports of tea, glass, and paper, revenue raised would be used to pay crown officials, provided the right to search private homes for smuggled goods (Writs of Assistance). Colonists responded with boycotts and protests

Daughters of Liberty- Formed to protest the stamp act, and cause colonial shortages as a form of protest of the Townshend Act (boycott British goods). Sewed soldier’s uniforms for independence and produced home-spun cloth. 

Parliament believed Townshend Acts regulated trade, and enforced Mercantilist policies legitimately, rather than direct tax.

Colonies were mad they had to pay tax that people in Britain were exempt from, and boycotted and protested. 

Letters from a farmer in Pennsylvania- wrote by John Dickinson, outlined logic behind colonial opposition towards the Townshend Act 

The Boston Massacre 1770- Angry British soldiers killed 4 colonists in a crowd in Boston

Massachusetts Circular letter- Written by Sam Adams and James Otis, was a petition for the Parliament to repeal the Townshend Acts. Resulted in British officials not listening, and colonists boycotting in British goods and merchants smuggling to avoid Townshend duties.

Sequence of events: Treaty of Paris signed, Natives excluded from treaty discussions/negotiations, after 1763 British allowed westward expansion, 1763-1766 was start of Pontiac’s rebellion/war

Sequence of protest: House of Burgesses passed Virginia Resolves, Stamp Act Congress convened, Angry mobs attacked stamp distributors, Boycott of British goods began