Context behind the colonial powers in North America 1740-1763

Question 1

Political context for the British colonies?

Answer 1

• Each colony had a royal governor appointed by the crown, but elected colonial assemblies held real power through the control of taxation and spending - in that, although theoretically Britain held sovereignty, and could veto any law passed by the assemblies, this was very rarely exercised, allowing the colonies relative autonomy
• Governors were more influenced by assemblies than by the distant metropole due to the lack of military enforcement and salary control
• 50-80% of white adult males could vote (vs 17% in Britain) due to widespread land ownership
• British metrepole pursued a policy of salutary neglect, rarely enforcing imperial rules strictly
• Colonists had a significant fear of being taken over by the stricter Catholic colonial powers, which fostered loyalty to their comparatively liberal British metropole, who they felt protected their liberties

Question 2

Economic context for the British colonies?

Answer 2

• Rapid population growth - outnumbered the French 20:1- reached around 1 million by 1740
• Mercantilist laws regulated trade but were loosely enforced, due to limited coercive power, given the 3000 miles of Atlantic ocean between Parliament and the colonies
• Enjoyed major economic benefits from colonial status: from British credit, protected markets and cheap goods - colonial economy grew by 3% per year on average
• British manufacturing led to a “consumer revolution” (Alan Taylor) - imported textiles, tea, furniture
• High standard of living for middle classes
• 90% of population were farmers and majority owned their land
• Southern colonies: focused on cash crops and plantation exports = therefore reliant on British triangular trade and enslaved labour = dependent on Britain
• Northern colonies: much more limited commercial ties with Britain - most trade was with the West Indies
• Smuggling = very common - by 1763 - around £700,000 worth of goods annually smuggled in

Question 3

Economic context for the British colonies?

Answer 3

• Religiously diverse within Protestantism but a strong anti-Catholic sentiment
• C18th Methodist religious movement (The Great Awakening) which emphasised the personal relationship between person and God - potentially fostered democratic/autonomous values #
• 75% of white adult males were literate vs 60% in Britain - by 1740, there were over 38 Newspapers in circulation = growing political awareness