Joining the Empire, 1690-1763
Early American Social History
Term 2, Week 10.
Territorial Expansion
• 18thC filling in of gaps in Br territory in
America
• Often through warfare, sometimes through
simple expansion into ‘empty’ areas
• Brings GB into conflict with France and
Spain
• Close relationship between European
warfare and American warfare
North America in 1700
Wars (1)
• War of the League of Augsburg (King William’s
War) 1689-1697
• Some cross border raids in New England and
Acadia; Treaty of Ryswick leaves borders alone
• War of Spanish Succession (Queen Anne’s War)
1701-1713
• Fought mainly in New England and South
Carolina; NY remained neutral; fighting low-key,
European victories of GB lead to Treaty of Utrecht
and some permanent cession of territory in Europe
(e.g. Gibraltar) and America
Newfoundland
• T of U acknowledges GB control of NFD.
Previously settled, but privately. Mainly GB
popn, (7,500 in 1750)
• Important as allowed GB to control Grand
Banks fishing grounds
Nova Scotia
• Originally Fr colony of Acadia, founded 1605 by
Champlain. Br always wary of Acadia, on direct
shipping route to Europe.
• 1710 conquest of Acadia (except for Ille Royale)
recognised by T of U. 2,000 Acadians remain,
allowed to retain culture in return for allegiance.
Acadians as distinct group in Fr society.
• Problems over loyalty, expulsions 1755 - NS to be
British
• Founding of Halifax, replaced Port Royal as
capital, migration encouraged from GB.
Georgia
• Founded 1733 as buffer for South Carolina
and as haven for poor protestants.
• Georgia ‘plan’; utopian? Attempt to prohibit
slavery
• Failure of plan, reasons (malcontents, ec
problems) consequences
• Georgia’s plantation economy, further
territorial expansion, Indian cessions
Wars (2)
• War of Austrian Succession (King George’s
War) 1744-1748
• Main American event was capture of
Louisbourg, massive fort on Ille Royale, but
returned to France in 1748 in return for
Madras.
British Attack Louisbourg 1745
British Army Disembarking at Louisbourg
North
America
1750
Seven Years War (French and
Indian War) 1754 (6)- 1763
• Starts in America over competing land claims in
Ohio valley - strategic importance of region.
• GB joined with American colonial militia in
attacks on Fr forts, (led by GW), mainly lost in
first years of war
• Onset of European war distracted Fr, allowed GB
to channel all resources to America and India and
cut of naval supplies to Fr colonies.
• Albany Congress 1754, plan of Union.
Fall of Canada
• 1758-9 3-pronged attack on Canada, through
Niagra, Lake Champlain, and the St Lawrence
• Capture of Louisbourg, and its destruction
• 1759 Battle of Plains of Abraham outside Quebec
City, between Wolfe and Montcalm.
• Both commanders killed, but Br won battle and
took Quebec.
• Gen. Amherst took Montreal in 1760, ended Fr
rule in Canada.
Capture of Louisbourg, 1758
Amherst marches on Louisbourg
Death of General Wolfe
Marquis
de
Montcalm
End of the War
• Sp entered war on Fr side 1761, also lost
territory ie Havana and Manila
• Treaty of Paris 1763 confirmed Br control
of Canada. Spain exchanged Florida for
Havana and Manila
• Fr also lost control of St Vincent, Grenada,
Tobago and India to GB and Louisiana to
Sp (GB thought Sp less of a threat)
France kneels before Britannia
North
America
1763
Before and After 1763
Floridas
• GB split Florida into 2 colonies, East Florida
(peninsular, cap St Augustine) and West Florida
(panhandle as far as Mobile, cap Pensacola)
• Problem of depopulation; Sp settlers left for Cuba,
Fr settlers often remained, but numbers small, and
upset by establishment of Ang chruch etc.
• Most settlers from South Carolina and Georgia,
tried to establish plantation economy, succeeding
slowly but progress minimal by time of
Revolution.
Quebec
• Fr Canada had popn of 80,000; placed under military
rule 1760; Fr customs and lifestyle respected in order to
induce settlers of remain
• Gen Murray = ruler of Quebec, sympathetic to Fr
concerns.
• Quebec Act 1774, est boundaries of colony, huge
including Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and
Indiana. New system of govt did not allow elected
assembly as Fr catholic majority would not be allowed to
vote etc.
• Seen with suspicion by other cols as possible blueprint
for them
Foundation of Colonies
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Virginia 1607
Massachusetts 1630
Maryland 1634
Connecticut 1636
Rhode Island 1638
South Carolina 1663
North Carolina 1663
New York 1664
New Jersey 1664
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New Hampshire 1679
Pennsylvania 1681
Delaware 1683
Nova Scotia 1713
Newfoundland 1713
Georgia 1733
East Florida 1763
West Florida 1763
Quebec 1774
Possible new colonies
• Ideas for new colonies during 1760s and 1770s.
• Northern part of West Florida (near Natchez)
• Trans-Appalachian ideas (Vandalia, Transylvania)
steady trickle of settlers in this region despite
Proclamation Line limiting settlement and
reserving land for Indians.
Conclusion
• Britain at height of power in 1763.
Controlled North America and India, and
had good working relationship with various
colonies.
• Potential for Britain to dominate world, but
seeds of destruction already sown.