North America in 1750 Greedy for Land 1750

North America in 1750

Greedy for Land • 1750: – France is Britain’s greatest rival in the America’s. – They both wanted the Ohio River Valley. • What was so special about this place that made it worth fighting over? – Rich soil, waterway, westward expansion for colonies. • Colonists felt loyalty toward Britain. – They also wanted to expand westward and kick the French out.

French Colonies • Where were the French located: – Quebec – Mississippi Valley (called Louisiana) • Fur Trade, not settlement • Catholic priests wanted to convert Native Americans. – Friendlier relations with Natives than the British. • They relied on tribes: – Hurons – Ottawas – They set up a trade relationship. • Trade let to military alliances.

Colliding Empires • France built Fort Duquesne where two rivers meet in the Ohio River Valley. (modern-day Pittsburgh) • The British had claimed this land already for Virginia planters and sent militia to kick out the French. – George Washington was sent. – He established Fort Necessity which was about 60 miles away from the French fort.

1754 The First Clash The Ohio Valley

Early Battles • Washington’s militia attacked a small detachment of French soldiers. • The French counterattacked. • The French forced Washington to surrender. • This was the opening battle of the French and Indian War.

1755 Britain decides to eliminate French presence in North America • General Edward Braddock evict the French from the OH Valley & Canada • He was approaching Ft. Duquesne and the French with their Indian allies ambushed them. • The British fled. 1757 William Pitt becomes Foreign Minister • Pitt was energetic, self-confident politician. • He began winning battles. • Iroquois support British.

1763 Treaty of Paris France --> lost Canadian possessions, most of the empire in India, and claims to lands east of the Mississippi River. England --> got all French lands in Canada, exclusive rights to Caribbean slave trade, and commercial dominance in India. Native Americans --> found the British harder to bargain with than the French.

North America in 1763

The Aftermath: Tensions Along the Frontier • The Indians feared that the British settlers crossing the Appalachian mountains would drive away their food. • 1763, Pontiac, the Ottawa leader captured 8 British forts in the Valley. • British officers presented small-pox infected blankets to 2 Delaware chiefs during peace negotiations. – Tribes were too weak and sick to fight. – They negotiated treaties with the British.

Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763)

1763 Pontiac’s Rebellion British “gifts” of smallpox-infected blankets from Fort Pitt.

Proclamation of 1763 • To avoid conflicts with Indians, the British issued this. • It banned all settlement west of the Appalachian mountains. • Colonists could not cross this. • It was difficult for the British to enforce this just like the Navigation Acts. • Colonists continued to move West.

BACKLASH! British Proclamation Line of 1763.

British-American Colonial Tensions • Colonists were convinced Britain did not care about their need to move West. • Britain was in a lot of debt because of the French and Indian War. • Britain was cracking down on smuggling, especially in Massachusetts. – Writs of Assistance: authorized any British customs official to search any ship or building. – Many merchants worked out of their homes so this meant that officials could search houses. Merchants were outraged. • Britain stationed 10, 000 troops in its territories to control Indian and former French subjects. – Colonists saw this as a threat. What if the army turned against them?

British-American Colonial Tensions • Having that many soldiers meant an increasing debt. – This was an unnecessary added expense on an already strained budget. • King George II wanted to lower the debt. – He chose a financial expert, George Grenville, to serve as Prime Minister in 1763. • Sugar Act: – – Put in place to prevent smuggling. It placed a duty on foreign-made molasses. It placed duties on certain imports. It strengthened the enforcement of the law allowing prosecutors to try smuggling cases in a stricter court.

Effects of the War on Britain? 1. It increased her colonial empire in the Americas. 2. It greatly enlarged England’s debt. 3. Britain’s contempt for the colonials created bitter feelings.

Effects of the War on the American Colonials 1. It united them against a common enemy for the first time. 2. It created a socializing experience for all the colonials who participated. 3. It created bitter feelings towards the British that would only intensify.

British-American Colonial Tensions Colonials Methods of Fighting: • Indian-style Military Organization: • Colonial Military Discipline: • No Finances: • Resistance guerilla tactics. militias served under own captains. • March in formation or bayonet charge. • British officers wanted to take charge of colonials. strict military protocols • Drills & tough rules followed. discipline. to rising taxes. Demeanor: British • Casual, non-professionals. • Colonists should pay for their own defense. • British officers with servants & tea settings.

Rethinking Their Empire British Government tries to prevent smuggling: A 1761 writs of assistance § James Otis’ case Protection of a citizen’s private property must be held in higher regard than a parliamentary statute. § He lost parliamentary law and custom had equal weight. §

George Grenville’s Program, 1763 -1765 1. Sugar Act - 1764 2. Currency Act - 1764 3. Quartering Act - 1765 4. Stamp Act - 1765

Theories of Representation Real Whigs Q-> What was the extent of Parliament’s authority over the colonies? ? Absolute? OR Limited? Q-> How could the colonies give or withhold consent for parliamentary legislation when they did not have representation in that body? ?

Stamp Act Crisis Loyal Nine - 1765 Sons of Liberty – began in NYC: Samuel Adams Stamp Act Congress – 1765 * Stamp Act Resolves Declaratory Act – 1766

Costs of Colonial Resistance

Townshend Duties Crisis: 1767 -1770 1767 William Pitt, P. M. & Charles A Townshend, Secretary of the Exchequer. Shift from paying taxes for Br. war debts & quartering of troops paying col. govt. salaries. A He diverted internal to A Tax these imports paper, paint, lead, glass, tea. A revenue collection from external trade. Increase custom officials at American ports established a Board of Customs in Boston.

Colonial Response to the Townshend Duties 1. John Dickinson 1768 * Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania. 2. 1768 2 nd non-importation movement: * “Daughters of Liberty” * spinning bees 3. Riots against customs agents: * John Hancock’s ship, the Liberty. * 4000 British troops sent to Boston.