Salutary Neglect to Reorganization

Salutary Neglect and French-Indian War

• Since 1688, England allowed American colonies to prosper largely under self-rule (“Salutary Neglect”)

• French and Indian War (1754-1763)

– Friction between English colonies and French colonies erupted over French move to take Ohio area

– Indians fought on both sides

– English-French tensions created worldwide “Seven Years War” 1756-63

George Washington commanded English troops in French and Indian War

Territorial Changes from French-Indian War

• Treaty of Paris 1763, France gave territory between Appalachians and Mississippi to Britain.

• Land west of the Mississippi and New Orleans transferred to Spain

• Spain gave Florida and Cuba to Britain.

• French Canada transferred to Britain

• To avoid conflict and expenses, England passed Proclamation of 1763, forbidding colonial expansion into Indian lands west of Appalachians.

• Britain maintained army of 10,000 in America to control western territories

Economics after French-Indian War

• To win the war, Britain nearly doubled its national debt

• Colonial economies boomed as Britain bought army supplies

• To pay debts, Parliament raised taxes in England; English demanded tax on colonies.

British Attempts to Assert Control

• Writs of Assistance

– Meant to stop smuggling of cheaper goods from the French West Indies.

– British officers could search suspected smugglers ships, warehouses & homes without “probable cause”

– Boston lawyer James Otis argued that the Act was unconstitutional, but lost. George III

Sugar Act of 1764

• Increased the tax on molasses imported from French West Indies

• Colonial exports (lumber, iron, furs) go through England

• Increased complexity of shipping paper work

• Offenders prosecuted without jury trial; judges were paid for convictions

• Colonists avoided tax by bribing officials. England lowered tax to cost of typical bribe.

Stamp Act of 1765

• Tax on paper for newspapers, diplomas and most legal documents.

• Colonists had no legal representation: internal tax violated English law; Parliament argued that colonists had “virtual representation”.

• Patrick Henry persuaded eight colonies to pass resolutions against the Act

• Boston: colonists rioted and began intimidation campaign against tax collectors and governor.

• Sons of Liberty organized groups to lead demonstrations

• Boycott of British goods by NY merchants: English exporters forced Parliament to repeal the Act.

• To save face, Parliament passed Declaratory Act: asserted its power to make laws for and place taxes on the colonies.

Quartering Act

• Colonial assemblies must raise taxes to pay for maintaining British soldiers.

• New York, initially refused to pay for any supplies but eventually agreed.

Townshend Acts of 1767-1770

• Taxes on some imports (paint, lead, glass, paper and tea).

• Not an “internal tax” so Townshend didn’t expect colonial opposition.

• Revenue to pay governors so assemblies would lose leverage over governors.

• Colonists argued taxes raised revenue, not to protect merchants’ interests.

• MA and VA assemblies wrote protest to Parliament, citing “no taxation without representation.” Tar and Feathering, shown in drawing of the time

Fallout from Townshend Acts

• Hillsborough (who replaced Townshend) overreacted, gave governors right to dismiss assemblies.

• Colonists protested duties through non-importation, leading to 40% drop in British imports.

• Merchants in England pressured Parliament to repeal.

• Women led boycotts of tea and made their own cloth

• Bribing customs officials and smuggling undermined Townshend duties.

• 1770 Townshend Duties finally repealed after Boston Massacre. Tea tax kept.

Clovis points used for spears