The Empire on the Eve of Revolution
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The Empire on the Eve of Revolution
(‘86) Despite the view of some historians that the conflict between Great Britain and its thirteen North American colonies was economic in origin, in fact the American Revolution had its roots in politics and other areas of American life. Assess the validity of this statement. (‘89) In the two decades before the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, a profound shift occurred in the way many Americans thought and felt about the British government and their colonial governments. Assess the validity of this statement in view of the political and constitutional debate of these decades. (’92) Evaluate the relative importance of the following as factors prompting Americans to rebel in 1776: Parliamentary taxation British military measures Restriction of civil liberties The legacy of colonial religious and political ideas (‘97) Analyze the extent to which the American Revolution represented a radical alteration in American political ideas and institutions. Confine your answer to the period 1775 to 1800.
I. Britain on the Eve
British political culture disabled response: system still vital, but too rigid to respond reasonably/imaginatively In addition, B knowledge of colonies imperfect: info channeled through Governors (office seekers, aristocrats) who couldn’t/didn’t understand colonial situation
Board of Trade and Plantations Secretary of State for the Southern Department
A. Conservative Culture
End of Seven Years war: greatest empire in world spanning the globe (Asia, Africa, Canada) Enormous power at home Economy and population growing rapidly Proud of “English liberties”: great degree political freedom and power
But bought at a cost: Magna Carta, English Civil War, Glorious Revolution
B. Government in Britain
Representation in Parliament was limited to property holders, and not even all of those:
Rotten boroughs Failure to reapportion: no account of population changes (shift north) ½ of seats controlled by old families
Virtual representation: all citizens represented in Parliament because all towns, cities, rural areas had basically same interests, and there were representatives from those types of areas; and Parliament had interests of whole nation at heart
English “Constitution”: system of laws and tradition that established form of government Mixed: combination monarchy (King), aristocracy (House of Lords), and democracy (House of Commons)
NOT a system of checks and balances
1689: Glorious Revolution Parliament dominant 1707: King cannot veto legislation Only House of Commons could levy taxes (no taxation without representation)
C. View of Colonies
Salutary Neglect (necessity of other concerns and distance) until 1763 View colonies as very rude, crude, malformed society; strong sense of superiority
Yankee Doodle Dandy and the Colonial militias
BUT by mid-18th growing concern that colonies might break away pop. and territory growth, growing economy
In part why take Canada over French sugar islands at end F+I war (Franklin’s warning)
II. The Colonies on the Eve
Before 1763 colonists content to be part of empire, and most especially liked being left alone Mercantilism largely worked to colonists’ advantage, and when didn’t bribery, smuggling, ignore
Were not taxed directly by Parliament: paid taxes to local assembly and customs duties
A. Colonial Political Culture
Believe English liberty extends back to ancient AngloSaxons (birthright, not dependent on gov’t) Native born elites provide political direction: connected to British elite and able to influence
Merchants successfully lobby/petition Parliament
Role of gov’t: 1) “King’s gov’t” to maintain “King’s peace” (status quo) and foreign policy (esp. maintain imperial power) 2) Colonial gov’ts to provide “King’s peace” and economic development: distribute land, infrastructure, award certain monopolies, buy supplies in wartime source of capital and stimulus
B. Colonial Government
Importance of government led to interest and involvement Colonial gov’t echoed British mixed: King=Governor, Lords=Governor’s Council, Commons= Assembly Representation more open and broader: 1) Land rich, labor poor society wide ownership, vote also extended to tenants and even residents 2) Class lines less rigid: no nobility middle class dominate social and political life 3) Religion: American church hierarchy weak laymen establish power accustomed use of church power transfer power to politics Left out: women, blacks, Indians
Approx. 100 year tradition native born elites dominating a “widely” represented polity Actual/direct representation: colonists believed their representatives were concerned for their indiv., specific interests that differed from others’ factionalism and power struggles Conflict contained by unwritten rules 1) interest groups/factions would not use violence violence threatens system and economic prosperity 2) power as fire: power necessary but dangerous and corrupting, must be contained (colonial and imperial) 3) Americans run their own lives
Basis of stability in 18th century:
1) Representative institutions 2) Widespread ownership of land 3) Tradition of self-gov’t
Stability Self-Gov Stability A challenge to this self-gov threatens stability revolt
III. 1763: Pyrrhic Victory
A. Pontiac’s Rebellion Indians unable to play B and F off each other British less willing to negotiate on Indian terms collapse of the “middle ground” + Concerns Indians losing culture and religion to European materialism and alcohol (the Delaware Prophet/Neolin) = Pontiac’s Rebellion: massive Indian alliance attacks B outposts (Detroit and Great Lakes, Penna. + VA frontiers)
B. Proclamation of 1763
George III limits colonial expansion w/Proclamation Line 1) Avoid war w/ Indians (fur trade, £137 million debt from F+I) 2) Restrain power of colonies Sends 10,000 troops to colonies to enforce Standing Army
Colonists outraged:
Need fertile lands for expansion (soil exhaustion throughout colonies); some already settled there/had claim to lands Felt it their due for militia’s role in F+I War Standing Army violated English rights under Magna Carta
Even worse: Prime Minister George Grenville decides colonies should help pay for cost of running empire (not to pay down war debt) Sugar Act, 1764 (Revenue Act)
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