🗽US History Unit 4 – Rule Britannia! The English Empire, 1660–1763

Key Events and Timeline

• The English Restoration (1660) marked the return of the monarchy under Charles II following the English Civil War and Cromwell's Commonwealth
• The Navigation Acts (1651, 1660, 1663, 1673) were a series of laws designed to regulate trade and protect English shipping interests
  • Required goods imported to England to be carried on English ships or ships from the country of origin
  • Aimed to undermine Dutch maritime trade dominance
• The Glorious Revolution (1688-1689) resulted in the overthrow of James II and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy under William III and Mary II
  • Marked a shift towards greater parliamentary power and limited monarchy
• The Treaty of Utrecht (1713) ended the War of the Spanish Succession and granted England significant territorial gains, including Gibraltar and Acadia (Nova Scotia)
• The Act of Union (1707) united England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain, creating a single parliament and a unified political entity
• The Seven Years' War (1756-1763) was a global conflict that resulted in significant British victories and territorial expansion, particularly in North America and India

Political Landscape in England

• The English Restoration saw the return of the Stuart dynasty under Charles II (1660-1685) and later James II (1685-1688)
• The Glorious Revolution (1688-1689) established a constitutional monarchy with increased parliamentary power
  • The Bill of Rights (1689) limited the monarch's authority and guaranteed certain rights to Parliament and individuals
• The rise of political parties, particularly the Whigs and Tories, shaped the political discourse and power dynamics
  • Whigs generally favored parliamentary supremacy and commercial interests
  • Tories supported the monarchy and landed aristocracy
• The Act of Settlement (1701) established the Hanoverian succession, ensuring a Protestant monarch and further solidifying parliamentary influence
• The development of a more stable and effective system of government, with a balance between the Crown, Parliament, and the judiciary
• The growth of a politically engaged public sphere, with the emergence of coffeehouses, newspapers, and political clubs

Colonial Expansion and Settlement

• English colonial expansion accelerated during this period, driven by economic, political, and religious motivations
• The establishment of the Thirteen Colonies along the eastern coast of North America, including Virginia (Jamestown, 1607), Massachusetts (Plymouth, 1620), and Pennsylvania (1681)
  • Colonies were founded by joint-stock companies (Virginia Company), religious groups (Puritans, Quakers), and proprietary grants (Maryland, Pennsylvania)
• The growth of plantation agriculture in the West Indies, particularly sugar production in Barbados and Jamaica
• The development of diverse colonial societies, with varying degrees of self-government, social hierarchies, and economic structures
  • The Mayflower Compact (1620) established a form of self-government in Plymouth Colony
  • The House of Burgesses (1619) in Virginia was the first representative assembly in the colonies
• The displacement and subjugation of indigenous populations through land encroachment, warfare, and the spread of European diseases
• The introduction of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade to meet labor demands in the colonies, particularly in the West Indies and the southern mainland colonies

Economic Policies and Trade

• The Navigation Acts (1651, 1660, 1663, 1673) regulated trade to benefit England and protect its shipping interests
  • Required colonial goods to be shipped on English vessels and traded through English ports
  • Aimed to undermine Dutch maritime trade dominance and foster economic dependence of the colonies
• The establishment of the Royal African Company (1672) to manage the English slave trade, reflecting the growing importance of slavery in the colonial economy
• The growth of mercantilism as an economic policy, which sought to maximize exports, minimize imports, and accumulate bullion (gold and silver)
  • Colonies were viewed as sources of raw materials and markets for finished goods
• The development of triangular trade routes, connecting England, Africa, and the colonies
  • Manufactured goods from England were exchanged for enslaved Africans, who were then transported to the colonies to work on plantations
  • Colonial raw materials (sugar, tobacco, cotton) were shipped back to England for processing and sale
• The rise of London as a global financial center, with the establishment of the Bank of England (1694) and the growth of joint-stock companies
• The increasing importance of colonial trade in the English economy, with the colonies becoming a significant source of wealth and raw materials

Military Conflicts and Alliances

• England engaged in numerous military conflicts during this period, both in Europe and in the colonies, to protect its interests and expand its territory
• The Anglo-Dutch Wars (1652-1654, 1665-1667, 1672-1674) were fought for naval supremacy and control over trade routes
  • The English victory in the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1665-1667) solidified its position as a major maritime power
• The Nine Years' War (1688-1697) saw England allied with the Dutch Republic and the Holy Roman Empire against France
  • The Treaty of Ryswick (1697) ended the war and recognized William III as the legitimate King of England
• The War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714) involved England, the Dutch Republic, and the Holy Roman Empire against France and Spain
  • The Treaty of Utrecht (1713) granted England significant territorial gains, including Gibraltar and Acadia (Nova Scotia)
• The Seven Years' War (1756-1763), known as the French and Indian War in North America, was a global conflict between Britain and France
  • British victories at the Plains of Abraham (1759) and the capture of Montreal (1760) led to the acquisition of French Canada
  • The Treaty of Paris (1763) confirmed British supremacy in North America and India
• The development of a professional standing army and a powerful navy to protect colonial interests and project power globally
• The forging of alliances with European powers, such as the Dutch Republic and the Holy Roman Empire, to counter French influence and expansion

Social and Cultural Developments

• The growth of a more stratified society in England, with the landed gentry, merchants, and professionals gaining influence alongside the aristocracy
• The emergence of a distinct colonial identity, particularly in the Thirteen Colonies, shaped by distance from the metropole and the experience of self-government
  • The Great Awakening (1730s-1740s), a religious revival movement, contributed to a sense of shared colonial experience and identity
• The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment had a significant impact on English intellectual life, promoting reason, empiricism, and individual rights
  • The Royal Society (founded 1660) promoted scientific inquiry and experimentation
  • John Locke's "Two Treatises of Government" (1689) articulated ideas of natural rights, property, and the social contract
• The growth of print culture, with the proliferation of newspapers, pamphlets, and books, fostering the spread of ideas and political debate
  • The first successful English newspaper, the London Gazette, was established in 1665
• The development of a vibrant public sphere, with coffeehouses, clubs, and societies serving as centers of sociability and intellectual exchange
• The expansion of education, both in England and the colonies, with the founding of new schools, colleges, and libraries
  • Harvard College (1636) and the College of William & Mary (1693) were established in the colonies

Impact on Indigenous Populations

• English colonial expansion had devastating consequences for indigenous populations in North America, the Caribbean, and other regions
• The spread of European diseases, such as smallpox and measles, decimated indigenous communities, often preceding direct contact with colonizers
  • The Native American population in New England was reduced by up to 90% due to disease in the early 17th century
• The displacement of indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands through land encroachment, treaties, and military force
  • The Powhatan Wars (1610-1646) in Virginia resulted in the dispossession and subjugation of the Powhatan Confederacy
• The destruction of indigenous social, political, and economic structures through the imposition of European systems and values
  • The Indian Slave Trade in the Southeast (1670-1715) disrupted indigenous societies and led to the enslavement and relocation of thousands
• The attempts to Christianize and "civilize" indigenous populations through missionary activities and the establishment of praying towns
  • The Praying Indian Towns in Massachusetts (1651) aimed to convert and assimilate Native Americans into Puritan society
• The development of complex diplomatic and trade relationships between English colonists and indigenous groups, often characterized by unequal power dynamics
  • The Covenant Chain (1677) was a series of alliances and treaties between the English and the Iroquois Confederacy
• The resistance and adaptation of indigenous communities in the face of colonial expansion, with varying degrees of success
  • King Philip's War (1675-1678) was a major uprising of Native American tribes against English colonists in New England

Legacy and Long-term Consequences

• The English colonial empire laid the foundation for the future growth and global influence of the British Empire
  • The Thirteen Colonies would later form the basis of the United States after gaining independence in 1776
• The economic, political, and social structures established during this period had lasting impacts on the development of the colonies and their relations with the metropole
  • The plantation economy and the institution of slavery would shape the American South until the Civil War (1861-1865)
• The ideas of the Enlightenment and the experience of self-government in the colonies contributed to the development of American political thought and the push for independence
  • The American Revolution (1765-1783) was influenced by the ideas of John Locke and the tradition of English liberty
• The displacement and subjugation of indigenous populations set a pattern for future relations between European settlers and Native Americans
  • The Trail of Tears (1830s) and the reservation system were later manifestations of this legacy
• The growth of the transatlantic slave trade and the institutionalization of slavery had profound and lasting consequences for African societies and the African diaspora
  • The Atlantic slave trade displaced an estimated 12-15 million Africans between the 16th and 19th centuries
• The economic and military rivalries established during this period, particularly with France and Spain, would continue to shape global conflicts and alliances in the centuries to come
  • The Seven Years' War (1756-1763) was a precursor to the global scale of warfare in the 20th century
• The cultural and intellectual developments of the period, including the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment, had far-reaching influences on Western thought and society
  • The ideas of individual rights, religious tolerance, and the social contract would inform political revolutions and the development of modern democracies