U.S. History

​The English Colonial Empire

The 17th Century

​An Empire of Trade

English Mercantilism in America

Parliament regulated commerce via Navigation Acts 1651-73

• Used colonies to benefit England

• All colonial trade on English ships and within English Empire

• Effective, but costly to enforce

• Shipping success, merchant & navy fleets became world’s best

• Inspired resentment among colonial merchants

  Empire

​Imperial Federalism

Distance, Glorious Revolution (1688), and growing tension with France led to relaxing of trade restrictions

• Parliament comes to rely on colonial assemblies to govern colonies

• English laws too costly to enforce over long distance

Salutary neglect begins

​Anglo-Native Conflict 

Population pressure leads to conflict in New England and Virginia

Metacom’s War 1675

Chief Metacom leads New England tribes in effort to drive out Europeans

• Brutal warfare, atrocities on both sides, ends in Anglo victory

​Conflict and Bacon’s Rebellion in Virginia

Former servants expanding west into Native territory to gain farms

• Demand gov’t help in clashes with Natives (1660s)

​Virginia wants peace w/Natives & slow growth 🡆 no military aid

• Angry settlers form frontier militia, led by Nathaniel Bacon 

  • Violently attack Natives (peaceful or not)

  • Turn on colonial gov’t and burn capital down

    • Bacon’s death and British troops end the uprising

​European Imperial Ambitions

Spanish Northern Borderlands (1565-)

Spain had little interest in the northern edge of its American empire

• Limited booty and quarrelsome natives

• Military outposts established mostly to discourage other Europeans

​French Settlements In North America (1608-)

French Canada claimed for economic and religious gain (not settlement)

• Fur traders span North America 

• Jesuit missionaries explore and map

Small population (1/10th British colonies)

​French forts eventually built across Ohio Valley (18th C.)

• Protect river supply routes

• Block British expansion

  • Tensions led to clashes and conflict…

​English or American?

• British colonial population growing rapidly (double every 25 years)

• After 1700 over half of all immigrants not English

• Generational Americans create their own culture and economy

​Provincial America 1700-1776

​Ethnic Diversity in the Backcountry

Scots-Irish (English transplanted many Scottish to Ireland – who then left)

• Sought cheap land (found on frontier) and freedom from British authority

• 150,000 immigrants, usually as families (or communities)

• Germans (both religious dissenters and land hungry farmers)

  • Settle effective back-country farming communities (100,000

​A Tradition of Self-government

Most colonies effectively run by representative legislatures

• Far more societal connection than parliament

• Self-taxing source of colonial funding 

  • Loyalty grew more toward colony than crown  

Busy British government happy colonies self-administrated

Salutary Neglect 🡆 colonies thrive on own

​Map 5.1 Immigrant Groups in 1775 America was already a nation of diverse nationalities in the colonial period. This map shows the great variety of immigrant groups, especially in Pennsylvania and New York. It also illustrates the tendency of later arrivals, particularly the Scots-Irish, to push into the

backcountry.

​Enlightenment Ideas

European thinkers question the established systems of government

• John Locke: English theorist revered by politically-active colonists

  • People with God-given rights

  • Government exists to protect those rights, and only with the consent of the governed 

​Free Press: New York vs. Zenger

Zenger reported corruption of NY governor

• Charged with seditious libel (inciting revolt through printed attack) 

  • Found not guilty due to truth of article

• Colonists say democracy requires information

• Paved way for freedom of the press

B​irth of an American Consumer Society

Trade increased greatly (between colonies & with England)

Growing economy led to an increasing demand for English consumer goods

Imports “Anglicized” culture and eroded regional identities

• Colonial trade brought diverse colonists into more frequent contact

​Colonial Slavery

Now wealthy, Southern landowners willing to spend for controllable work force

• 1680s slave trade increases

  • Purchased (or kidnapped) from West African tribes

  • 1500-1850: @ 20 million Africans kidnapped and transported

  • 11-14 million survive into slavery in the Americas

    • 400,000 to North America

​The Great Awakening

​National Religious Revival 1730-1770

Personal religious zeal inspired by high-emotion evangelical preaching 

• Common colonial American experience

• Morality became a key issue in American politics

• Established numerous colleges to train future ministers

• Belief that individuals can act on personal faith, without need for Church authority

  • Led people to challenge authority and believe in social equality
    

​The Battle for North America

​THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR (1754-63)

Colonial expansion collides with French trading posts in Ohio Valley, 1754

• Begins global Seven Years’ War (1756-63)

  • French failures in Europe weaken its effort in North America

​Early British Blunders (1755-56)

British army’s inflexible tactics ill-suited to American wilderness Continuously routed by smaller French & Indian forces

​William Pitt Takes Charge (1757)

Brilliant British Prime Minister

• Appoints young and creative military officers

​Battle of Quebec (1759)

General Wolfe leads daring victory over French

• Cuts off French supply line to rest of New France

• French war effort doomed

​Aftermath In America

• Treaty of Paris (1763) cedes all French North America to Britain

• Strained relations between Britain and Colonies

​Britain

Colonies failed to provide much help 

Smugglers even helped French

Massive war debts…