Empire to Independence

Origin of Tension

English Civil War

• Civil war begins in 1640s• England almost completely neglected its

colonies during this conflict

English Civil War

• King Charles I v Parliament• Charles I executed in 1649• 1660 Charles II becomes king when monarchy

restored

English Economic PhilosophyMercantilism

• Countries want as much bullion as possible• More gold = more power• If no access to gold mines, countries build

wealth through trade• Goal is to sell/export more than is

bought/imported (favorable balance of trade)

Mercantilism

• Colonies are desired to provide a market for products and a source of raw materials

• To ensure mother country would make its gold back, colonists would not be allowed to trade with other nations or manufacture their own goods

• Colonies would use ships of mother country to transport raw materials

• Mercantilism obviously appealed to English rulers

• 1660- Charles II approves Navigation Act

Tightened English control over colonial trade

Sugar, cotton, tobacco only sold to EnglandAll good sold on world market had to be taken to England ad pay a tax on itEnglish ships must be used for all trade

Became too expensive for colonies to trade with other European nations

Effects of War and Politics

• Mercantilism led to European nations fighting with each other over colonies– England v Spain– England v Dutch– Eventually England v France

Effects of War and Politics• English kings sought to tightly

control the colonies– 1686 James II attempts to

take direct control of New York and New England by creating the Dominion of New England• abolished colonial

legislatures within the Dominion

• replaced them with a governor and council appointed by James II

Anger in the Colonies

• Colonists resented James II– And Edmund Andros (governor of Dominion)• He collected taxes without approval of king or colonists• Declared religious tolerance

– Puritans resented this and felt it was a blow to their freedom from English influence and control of religious affairs in their own colony

Anger in the Colonies

• James making enemies in England– He was Catholic, England was Protestant

• 1689 Parliament replaced James II with his daughter Mary and her husband William (Glorious Revolution)

• Andros removed from power in colonies

Anger in the Colonies

• William and Mary dissolved Dominion of New England– Reestablished colonies James had abolished

• Changed charter of Mass. To include a royal governor

Britain’s Colonial Policy in the Early 1700s

• By early 1700s most colonies shared a similar government– Governor appointed by the king– Colonial legislature served under governor• Advisory council

– Upper house appointed by king– Lower house elected by the people

Britain’s Colonial Policy in the Early 1700s

• Royal governor had lots of power– Decided when to call the legislature into session

and when to end the session– Could veto and laws– Appointed local officials

Britain’s Colonial Policy in the Early 1700s

• Colonial legislatures really ran the colonies though– Created and passed laws regarding defense and

taxation– Set salaries for royal officials– Influenced appointments of local judges and

officials

Salutary Neglect

• Britain allowed colonists freedom in governing themselves– England had a long tradition of strong local government

and weak central power– Britain lacked the resources to enforce their wishes– Colonists voluntarily recognized the authority of the king

• Proud to be English citizens

• Britain realized their best course of action was salutary neglect– Things were working as they were, no reason to interfere