Salutary Neglect to Reorganization
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Transcript of Salutary Neglect to Reorganization
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