America: A Narrative History notes Ch. 1
From Empire to Independence
Colonies became more important for the British mainland economy
Colonies experienced agricultural and commercial growth but remained diverse in composition and outlook o Generally adverse to cooperative efforts
The Heritage of War
Most Americans submitted willingly to the English government due to their alliance in French and Indian War o However, American nationalism was building
Brutalities of English soldiers heightened sense of separate identity
English soldiers were inept at frontier fighting; initial respect for them was lost
English disrupted the colonies’ illegal but necessary molasses trade with the French West Indies
Writs of assistance (unspecific search warrants) and naval patrols
Boston merchants hired James Otis to fight writs of assistance; he lost but revealed that writs of assistance were like slavery
Why was revenue needed? o Management and defense of new global possessions o Payment of war debt o Expansion of colonial administration and defense
British Politics
Nearly every politician was a Whig: a name given to those who had opposed James II, led the Glorious
Revolution of 1688, and secured Protestant succession o Champions of individual liberty and parliamentary supremacy o Whiggism drifted into complacency: dominant group of landowners became concerned with personal wealth George III wanted to limit Whigs so ousted William Pitt as prime minister and established “king’s friends” o Government became unstable. Ministries rose and fell usually because someone offended the king, etc. o Colonial policy remained marginal to the chief concerns of British politics. The result was inconsistency and vacillation followed by stubborn inflexibility.
Western Lands
Royal Proclamation of 1763: issued by king, drew an imaginary line along the crest of the Appalachians, beyond which settlers were forbidden to go, in response to Pontiac’s Rebellion o also
Colonies became more important for the British mainland economy
Colonies experienced agricultural and commercial growth but remained diverse in composition and outlook o Generally adverse to cooperative efforts
The Heritage of War
Most Americans submitted willingly to the English government due to their alliance in French and Indian War o However, American nationalism was building
Brutalities of English soldiers heightened sense of separate identity
English soldiers were inept at frontier fighting; initial respect for them was lost
English disrupted the colonies’ illegal but necessary molasses trade with the French West Indies
Writs of assistance (unspecific search warrants) and naval patrols
Boston merchants hired James Otis to fight writs of assistance; he lost but revealed that writs of assistance were like slavery
Why was revenue needed? o Management and defense of new global possessions o Payment of war debt o Expansion of colonial administration and defense
British Politics
Nearly every politician was a Whig: a name given to those who had opposed James II, led the Glorious
Revolution of 1688, and secured Protestant succession o Champions of individual liberty and parliamentary supremacy o Whiggism drifted into complacency: dominant group of landowners became concerned with personal wealth George III wanted to limit Whigs so ousted William Pitt as prime minister and established “king’s friends” o Government became unstable. Ministries rose and fell usually because someone offended the king, etc. o Colonial policy remained marginal to the chief concerns of British politics. The result was inconsistency and vacillation followed by stubborn inflexibility.
Western Lands
Royal Proclamation of 1763: issued by king, drew an imaginary line along the crest of the Appalachians, beyond which settlers were forbidden to go, in response to Pontiac’s Rebellion o also