Trade Wars and Colonial Rebellion

Mercantile Empires

Mercantilism: basic idea is to bring profit (bullion) to the mother nation

Britain, France, Netherlands and Spain were the greatest powers

Britain-North Atlantic seaboard, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland

France-Saint Lawrence, Ohio and Mississippi River valleys

Spanish-all of South America except for Brazil Dutch-South Africa, and Indonesia (Dutch East Indies)

Treaty of Utrecht(1713)

Set the boundaries of European Empires Spain

South America, portions of North America, Caribbean Great Britain

North America, islands in the Caribbean, trade stations in India

France Portion of North America (Canada). Islands in Caribbean,

stations in India and Africa Dutch

Dutch Guiana, trading stations in Southern Africa, India, controlled trade with Java

France vs. Britain

Centers of rivalry North America- fishing rights, fur trade,

and alliances with Native Americans West Indies- Sugar, tobacco, cotton,

indigo, coffee

India

India- trade company competition East India Company vs. Compagnie des

Indes Trading posts in India (factories) Both companies leveraged for control as

several Indian state governments collapsed Joseph Dupleix for France Robert Clive for Britain

Mid-18th Century Wars

War of Jenkins Ear

Underlying Reasons Trade rivalry, smuggling, Spanish searching English

vessels Immediate Reason-

Spanish cut off ear of English captain Robert Jenkins, Used as example of Spanish atrocities

British planters lobbied Parliament to stop the Spanish PM Walpole succumbed to pressure. Britain went to

war. Results-

Start of series of European wars

War of Austrian Succession1740-48

Underlying Reasons Frederick II of Prussia seizes Austrian area of

Silesia Broke the Pragmatic Sanctions Prussia treated Hapsburgs as just another

state.

War of Austrian Succession1740-48

Immediate Reasons Debate over Maria Theresa’s right to rule as a

woman Empress Maria Theresa wanted to preserve

Hapsburg power Promised privileges to nobles Recognized Hungary

War of Austrian Succession1740-48

Strategies Southwest Germany, the Low Countries and

Italy- major areas of battle Prussia used a professional army

War of Austrian Succession1740-48

Results France was pulled in by supporting Prussia Great Britain pulled in to keep Low Countries in

Austrian ownership France and Spain vs. Great Britain in New World

Stalemate- Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle Prussia kept Silesia Britain kept slavery privilege with Spanish colonies

Diplomatic Revolution - 1756

Underlying Reasons Struggles in North America Britain and Prussia- Convention of

Westminister Defensive Alliance against France

Austria and France sign an alliance in response.

Seven Years War(1756-1763)

Underlying Reasons Defensive strategy of the Convention of

Westminister

Seven Years War(1756-1763)

Immediate Reasons Frederick II invaded Saxony

France and Austria allied against Prussia, Sweden, Russia and a variety of German states

Britain gave Prussia financial aid, enters the war against France.

Seven Years War(1756-1763)

Strategies Frederick makes peace with Russia, allows Prussia to

stalemate Austria and France William Pitt (the Elder) provided funds to Prussia, to

distract France in North America France unwilling to put major resources in N.A.

British capture French West Indies Sugar money support war effort

British defeat France in India Leads to eventual conquest of India

Seven Years War(1756-1763)

Results Treaty of Paris –1763

Britain receives Canada, returns French West Indies and parts of India

HRE now relied on Hungary for its power France lost its colonial dominance British become a world power

The American Revolution

British had two problems after Seven Years War Cost of maintaining the empire The management of the new territories

gained from France

Parliament had to find new forms of revenue

Funding Sources

1764 Sugar Act Attempted to collect tax revenue and cut down on

smuggling Stamp Act

Tax on legal documents and other items Money was to be used in the Colonies Colonies protested (Stamp Act Congress, Sons of

Liberty) Declaratory Act

Gave Parliament the power to legislate the colonies

Crisis and Independence

Charles Townshend Chancellor of the Exchequer Helped Parliament pass series of revenue

acts Sent new officials to enforce the new laws

and troops to protect the officials The result- The Boston Masscre

Tea and Intolerable

1773- Tea Act passed Direct import of tea into colonies Lowered tax, but the tax was without colonial

consent.

1774- Intolerable Acts passed Controlled by PM Lord North Series of laws to take control of the colonies

Congresses and the War 1774- 1st Continental Congress in Philadelphia

Advocated self government of colonies April 1775- Fighting breaks out

May 1775- 2nd Continental Congres- Started to conduct the business of the colonies

August 1775- George II declares colonies to be in rebellion

From 1775-1781- Open Fighting between Americans and British troops France and Spain supported the rebellion

American Political Ideas

Took ideas from The English Revolution of 1688 John Locke English Commonwealthmen

John Trenchard Thomas Gordon Both criticized the government patronage of

Walpole – corrupt and undermined liberty

Britain during the Revolution

George III had gone through a series of PM’s in an attempt to gain influence

The case of John Wilkes gave the colonists an anti-monarchy stance Wilkes critical of Lord Bute Arrested and thrown out of Parliament Attempted to return to Parliament but was refused

initially

Parliamentary Reform

Yorkshire Association Movement Demanded moderate changes to elections Organized groups in other areas of England Wanted to reform the entire government

Fell apart due to lack of popular support Did result in less power for the crown Eliminated some patronage

Under the leadership of PM William Pitt the Younger, there was some attempt at reform, but it failed

Impact of the American Revolution

Established a government based on popular sovereignty rather than divine law

Rejection of social status- anti-aristocracy