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 Philosophy
Mercantilism
• 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
England
All good sold on world market had to
be taken to England ad pay a tax on it
English 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