PP 07 Crisis of the Imperial Constitution, 1763-1773

GHIST 225: US History Kevin R. Hardwick Spring 2012 LECTURE 07 Constitutional Conflict in the British Empire after the Seven Years War

Part One: The Great War for Empire and the end of “Salutary Neglect” Part Two: The Revolutionary Crisis and a Conflict of Constitutional Interpretation Documents: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Thomas Whately, The Regulations Lately Made (1765), in CAPCT, Vol. 1, pp. 166-170 James Otis, Rights of the British Colonies Proved and Asserted (1764), in CAPCT, Vol. I, pp. 154-159 Samuel Adams, “Circular Letter” (1768) in CAPCT, Vol. I, pp. 197-199 Thomas Hutchinson, “A Dialogue Between an American and a European Englishman (1768), in CAPCT, Vol. 1, pp. 214-226

Dates

War

Annual Cost (Thosands of Pounds Sterling)

Debt at End (Thosands of Pounds Sterling)

1689-1697

Nine Years War

5,500,000

16,700,000

1702-1713

War of the Spanish 7,000,000 Succession

36,200,000

1739-1748

War of the Austrian 8,800,000 Succession

76,100,000

1756-1763

Seven Years War

132,600,000

18,000,000

Thomas Whately, The Regulations Lately Made (1765) The revenue that may be raised by the duties which have been already, or by these [stamp dates] if they should be hereafter imposed, are all equally applied by Parliament, towards defraying the necessary expenses of defending, protecting, and securing, the British colonies and plantations in America. [CAPCT, vol. I, p. 166]

Thomas Whately, The Regulations Lately Made (1765) They [the people of the colonies] are immediately, they are principally concerned in it; and the inhabitants of their Mother-country would justly and loudly complain, if after all their efforts for the benefit of the colonies, when every point is gained, and every wish accomplished [by the British victory in the Seven Years War], and they alone should be called to answer every additional demand, that the preservation of these advantages, and the protection of the colonies from future dangers, may occasion. [CAPCT, vol. I, p. 166]

Thomas Whately, The Regulations Lately Made (1765) For by the appropriating this revenue towards the defence and security of the provinces where it is raised, the produce of it is kept in the country, the people are not deprived of the circulation of what cash they have amonst themselves, and thereby the severest oppression of an American tax, that of draining the plantations of money which they can ill spare, is avoided. [CAPCT, vol. I, pp. 166167]

James Otis, Rights of the British Colonies Proved and Asserted (1764) And such has been the zeal and loyalty of the colonies ever since for that establishment [the, limited monarchy established by the “Glorious Revolution” of 1688], and for the protestant succession in his present Majesty’s illustrious family, that I believe there is not one man in an hundred (except in Canada) who does not think himself under the best national civil constitution in the world. [CAPCT, vol. I, p. 154]

James Otis, Rights of the British Colonies Proved and Asserted (1764) We all think ourselves happy under Great Britain. We love, esteem and reverence our Mother Country, and adore our King. And could the choice of independency be offered the colonies, or subjection to Great-Britain upon any terms save absolute slavery, I am convinced they would accept the latter. The ministry, in all future generations may rely on it, that British America will never prove undutiful, till driven to it, as the last fatal resort against ministerial oppression, [CAPCT, vol. I, p. 158]

Richard Bland, An Inquiry into the Rights of the British Colonies (1766) [The colonists] had a regular government long before the first Act of Navigation, and were respected as a distinct state, independent, as to their internal government, of the original kingdom, but united with her, as to their external polity, in the closest and most intimate LEAGUE AND AMITY, under the same allegiance, and enjoying the benefits of a reciprocal intercourse. [CAPCT, vol. I, p. 189]

Samuel Adams, “Circular Letter” (1768) That the constitution [of Great Britain, as established in the Glorious Revolution of 1688] ascertains & limits both sovereignty and allegiance, & therefore, his Majesty’s American subjects, have an equitable claim to the full enjoyment of the fundamental rules of the British constitution. [CAPCT, vol. I, p. 198]

Thomas Hutchinson, “A Dialogue Between an American and a European Englishman (1768)

European: What sort of connection do you imagine there is between Great Britain and her colonies? Are you and we parts of one and the same empire or are we not? American: We are certainly under one and the same sovereign. [CAPCT, vol. I, p. 215]

Thomas Hutchinson, “A Dialogue Between an American and a European Englishman (1768)

American: The king might retain the executive power and also his share of the legislative without any abridgement of our rights as Englishmen; the Parliament could not retain their legislative power without depriving them of those rights, for after their removal they could no longer be represented, and their sovereign, sensible of this, by charter or commissions made provision in every colony for legislatures within themselves. [CAPCT, vol. I, p. 215]