PT.1 The origins of the
American Revolution, 1760–
1776
Section one: Britain and the American Colonies, 1760–1763
British attitudes towards thirteen colonies in regards to:
1) Governance: before + after of salutary neglect, up to Royal Proclamation of
1763.
2) Economically: Mercantilism, positive or negative, interventionist, neglect. Trade
Board led by Halifax. Navigation Acts; American goods had to travel on British
ships
3) Warfare: beginning of Seven Years War + after
4) Socially/Culturally: how connected they were, Royal governors,
Impact of the Seven Years War.
Positive or Negative Impact on British-Colonial Relationship.
Context: 1763 shared euphoria over military victory against the French.
CFJ: Was this euphoria sustained? Superficial vs Fundamental?
Governance: → 1758 Easton Treaty: Promise of British protection to Natives
→ Pontiac’s rebellion
→ 1763 Royal Proclamation
Ideology: Interrupting their manifest destiny, replicating Lockean Ideology e.g.
Establishing a standing army of 10,000 men
Eval: Limited geographical scope.
Economic → Growth in national debt + slowdown in economic growth created
tension. £137m + interest of £5m
→ 1763 Board of Trade led by Halifax - extended to impose the
navigation acts. In response to American smuggling with the French
+ West Indies, British Taxpayers upset, Cider Rebellion 1763.
→ Post-War economic slump in the colonies.
, Social → Post-War Euphoria strengthened cultural ties e.g. Martyrdom for
Wolfle + Amherst, Statue of George III
Eval: Colonies so culturally diverse it has a limited scope + short-lived due to
ending of salutary neglect over western expansion.
Judgement: Immediate aftermath cultural ties were strengthened BUT: divergent aims + post-victory
created tensions and marked the beginning of the breakdown of the British-Colonial relationship.
“In 1763, the relationship between Britain and its North American colonies was strong”.
Assess the validity of this view.
CFJ: Was it a reciprocal relationship? Weakness of relationship
Unity → Victory in the 7 years War strengthened the relationship between Britain and
its North American colonies e.g. road names named after Amherst and Wolff
Eval:
- Short lived, led to divergent aims and expectations.
- The British triumph prepared the ground for the American revolution, French
elimination from North America weakened the colonists’ sense of military
dependence on Britain.
3) Shared Institutions/Common Identity:
→ American loyalty highlighted by the popularity of George Il's 1760 coronation
(widely celebrated across America). This reflected the fact the only common
institutions in the colonies were those deriving from Britain: monarchy, common
Protestantism, English language. American newspapers (by 1750 there were 13
English newspapers in 7 colonies, reporting English news including
Parliamentary proceedings and royal addresses).
→ Close cross-Atlantic relationship underpinned by military success as 25,000
Americans join the militia during 7 Years' War; colonial militia well funded by
British loans after Pitt takes over the 7 Years war effort in 1758; capture of
Louisbourg by Massachusetts Militia in 1745 represented a significant success
American Revolution, 1760–
1776
Section one: Britain and the American Colonies, 1760–1763
British attitudes towards thirteen colonies in regards to:
1) Governance: before + after of salutary neglect, up to Royal Proclamation of
1763.
2) Economically: Mercantilism, positive or negative, interventionist, neglect. Trade
Board led by Halifax. Navigation Acts; American goods had to travel on British
ships
3) Warfare: beginning of Seven Years War + after
4) Socially/Culturally: how connected they were, Royal governors,
Impact of the Seven Years War.
Positive or Negative Impact on British-Colonial Relationship.
Context: 1763 shared euphoria over military victory against the French.
CFJ: Was this euphoria sustained? Superficial vs Fundamental?
Governance: → 1758 Easton Treaty: Promise of British protection to Natives
→ Pontiac’s rebellion
→ 1763 Royal Proclamation
Ideology: Interrupting their manifest destiny, replicating Lockean Ideology e.g.
Establishing a standing army of 10,000 men
Eval: Limited geographical scope.
Economic → Growth in national debt + slowdown in economic growth created
tension. £137m + interest of £5m
→ 1763 Board of Trade led by Halifax - extended to impose the
navigation acts. In response to American smuggling with the French
+ West Indies, British Taxpayers upset, Cider Rebellion 1763.
→ Post-War economic slump in the colonies.
, Social → Post-War Euphoria strengthened cultural ties e.g. Martyrdom for
Wolfle + Amherst, Statue of George III
Eval: Colonies so culturally diverse it has a limited scope + short-lived due to
ending of salutary neglect over western expansion.
Judgement: Immediate aftermath cultural ties were strengthened BUT: divergent aims + post-victory
created tensions and marked the beginning of the breakdown of the British-Colonial relationship.
“In 1763, the relationship between Britain and its North American colonies was strong”.
Assess the validity of this view.
CFJ: Was it a reciprocal relationship? Weakness of relationship
Unity → Victory in the 7 years War strengthened the relationship between Britain and
its North American colonies e.g. road names named after Amherst and Wolff
Eval:
- Short lived, led to divergent aims and expectations.
- The British triumph prepared the ground for the American revolution, French
elimination from North America weakened the colonists’ sense of military
dependence on Britain.
3) Shared Institutions/Common Identity:
→ American loyalty highlighted by the popularity of George Il's 1760 coronation
(widely celebrated across America). This reflected the fact the only common
institutions in the colonies were those deriving from Britain: monarchy, common
Protestantism, English language. American newspapers (by 1750 there were 13
English newspapers in 7 colonies, reporting English news including
Parliamentary proceedings and royal addresses).
→ Close cross-Atlantic relationship underpinned by military success as 25,000
Americans join the militia during 7 Years' War; colonial militia well funded by
British loans after Pitt takes over the 7 Years war effort in 1758; capture of
Louisbourg by Massachusetts Militia in 1745 represented a significant success
