Colonial Governments
In the eyes of the English, the colonies were
technically mere corporations—subordinate to Parliament and without any
inherent sovereignty. Colonial legislatures possessed only such privileges
as the King chose to grant to them. British officials also insisted that the
rights and powers won by Parliament in the Glorious Revolution of 1688 did
not automatically extend to the colonial assemblies, and that the royal
prerogative (inherent powers reserved by the Crown that were not surrendered
to Parliament) was therefore more extensive over the American legislatures
than over Parliament.French & Indian
War (1754-63 - known in England as the Seven Years War)
This was began primarily as a local North American Conflict. It was when the
governments of France and England formally opened hostilities and the
fighting spread to the West Indies, India, and Europe that The Seven Years'
War began. When William Pitt enlisted the help of the settlers instead of
demanding manpower and supplies, and brought more English troops to battle,
the war began to be won.
▪ The cost of
the war greatly enlarged Britain's debt
▪ Generated substantial resentment towards
the colonists among English leaders, who were not satisfied with the
financial and military help they had received from the colonists during the
war
▪ English leaders were persuaded that the
colonies needed a major reorganization and that the central authority should
be in London.
▪ Colonists learned to unite against a common
foe
▪ The vast interior of the continent lay open
for the Americans to colonize, however, The English government to induce a
controlled population movement, issued a Royal Proclamation that prohibited
settlement west of the line drawn along the crest of the Allegheny mountains
and to enforce that measure they authorized a permanent army of 10,000
regulars (paid for by taxes gathered from the colonies; most importantly the
"Sugar Act" (1764) and the "Stamp Act" (1765).
▪ Americans who, after having been held back
by the French, now saw themselves stopped by the British in their surge
west.
Taxation without Representation
The colonies debated England's legal power to tax them, not wishing to be
taxed without representation.
The Revenue Act of 1764
The Revenue Act of 1764 made the constitutional issue of whether or not the
King had the right to tax the thirteen colonies an issue.
Inter-Colonial
Meeting to Resist the Stamp Act
June 6, 1765, the Massachusetts House of Representatives, on the motion of
James Otis, resolved to propose an intercolonial meeting to resist the Stamp
Act. On June 8 it sent a circular letter to the assemblies of the other
colonies inviting them to meet at New York the following October "to
consider of a general and united, dutiful, loyal and humble representation
of their condition to His Majesty and the Parliament; and to implore
relief."
First
Independent Meeting of Colonial Representatives
October 1765, Colonial representatives met on their own initiative for the
first time and decided to "mobilize colonial opinion against parliamentary
interference in American affairs"
The
Boston Tea Party
In December 1773, The Boston Tea Party occurred as a reaction to the hated
Tea Act of earlier that year.
The First Continental Congress
In 1774, the First Continental Congress met and formed an 'Association.'
This group ended up assuming leadership and spurred new local organizations
to end royal authority. These associations influenced many people to join
the movement. Collection of supplies and mobilization of troops began to
take place. The leadership of the Association was able to fan "public
opinion into revolutionary ardor". |
