Chapter 5: From Empire to Independence
The Heritage of War
•
Victory in the “
Great War
” (The Seven Years War) brought pride in the British
Empire, but also caused maturation of American Nationalism
o
Americans no longer needed British protection
from the French threat
o
Americans felt a new sense of importance
after victory in a major war
o
Many Americans lost respect for the British soldiers
Inept at frontier fighting, cursed freely, and broke Sabbath
The brutal and cruel punishments of the British army helped give
Americans a separate sense of identity
•
Americans continued to trade with the “enemy” (needed molasses of the French
Indies)
o
Writs of Assistance
- general search warrants allowing officers to enter any
place during daylight hours to seek evidence of illegal trade
Used to try and disrupt illegal American trade with the French
o
James Otis
- an attorney hired by Boston merchants to fight the writs in court
Lost the case, but advanced the argument that Parliament was violating
their own constitution
•
New burdens were laid on the British government due to the extended Empire &
War
o
How should they protect their new possessions?
o
How should they deal with the Indians on the land?
o
How should they pay off all the debt?
British Politics
•
Whig
- government party established by those who opposed
James II
in the
Glorious Revolution of 1688
o
Formed majority of the British government in the 18
th
century
o
Championed individual liberty and parliamentary supremacy over the King
o
Became complacent (smug/satisfied)
Concerned more with the pursuit of personal gain
•
King George
III seeked to eliminate the Whig influence on the monarchy
o
Ousted
William Pitt
as the prime minister
o
Established the “
King’s Friends
”- a group of obedient advisers that had
power to appoint government offices
Only retained power by being a “yesman” to the King
Resulted in an extremely unstable government
Western Lands
•
Royal Proclamation of 1763
- an order from the King to disallow expansion
beyond an imaginary line along the Appalachians
o
Established new colonies of Quebec
and East & West Florida
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o
Designed to minimize conflict with the Natives
o
Extremely ineffective due to lack of enforcement
Grenville and the Stamp Act
Grenville’s Colonial Policy
•
Ministry of the Treasury
- created to deal with problems of British Imperial
Finances
•
George Grenville
- prime minister and first Lord of the Treasury
o
Despised by
George III
, but needed because they agreed on certain policies
Cutting gov. expenses, reducing national debt, generating more revenue
o
Took for granted the need for Redcoats to defend the American frontier
Wanted to keep a large army to avoid rapid demobilization (which would
cause many influential officers to be retired)
o
Believed that Americans should have greater tax burdens
Ordered colonial officials to tighten enforcement on illegal trade, and
ordered the navy to patrol the coast for smugglers
•

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- Spring '09
- STAFF
- Stamp Act, AP US History, Common Sense, American Revolution, Parliament, Established new colonies, The Declaration of Independence
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