THE CRISIS OF EMPIRE 1763-

1776

Benjamin Franklin asked by the House of Commons about (the temper of America towards Great Britain before the year 1763).

Answered that it was the “best in the world”. The colonists, he told the Commons “Submitted willingly to the government of

the Crown, and paid, in all their courts, obedience to acts of Parliament . . . had not only a respect, but an affection, for Great Britain, for its laws, its customs and manners, and even a fondness for its fashions, that greatly increased the commerce.”

What happened to the respect, affection and fondness ?

Most historians begin answering these questions by citing England’s new economic policies of 1763 as the beginning of the estrangement between England and the thirteen colonies.

By 1750, for example, most of the colonies had virtually all the requisites of self-governing states.

In each colony an effective local elite dominated political and social life.

Each of the colonies possessed autonomous local center of administration and political authority.

Particularly important in this sphere were the popularly elected lower houses of assembly in each colony.

Indeed in the century before the Revolution colonial Americans participated in the political process much more extensively than did their British cousins.

Colonies thus played a critical part in English trade

1772-3 36 per cent of the total volume of

English imports 37 per cent of the total volume of

English exports. Far from the colonies being weak and

dependent subsidiaries of Britain the British economy was fast becoming

dependent on the colonies.

English officials saw on the one hand

rapid growth and development of colonial economic and political institutions

on the other the importance of these colonies for the prosperity and power of England.

Fearful of the disastrous consequences to Britain of a loss of control over the colonies

British government sought not only to maintain but to intensify its economic and political hegemony.

One part of this attempt to increase control was the implementation of the proclamation line

Problems in 1763 War and aftermath brings problems huge national debt for Britain

increases from £75m to £150m Vast territory to police from Indian and

Spanish threats. Removal of French threat makes colonies

less dependent on Britain no longer a common enemy to fight

Solutions seem to be stationing regular army in colonies limiting white settlement so more defensible raising revenue through taxation in colonies. Very controversial

Americans?

Growing sense of difference from Britain Most Americans not born in Britain by 1760s.

Virginia and New England were on 6th/7th generation of Americans

Significant proportion not ethnically British French, German, African, Dutch

Departure because something ‘missing’ left to seek new life, new start, one unavailable in

GB Unique colonial events e.g. Great Awakening

fostered sense of common identity. Life of average American very different from

life of average Englishman.

Video War that changed America from

1763 on

April 19, 1775 Shot heard round the world Battle between British

Redcoats and Colonial Militia

War is beginning to creep forward and appears to be unavoidable

(particularly in hindsight) But was this really the case

Olive Branch Petition, John Dickinson drafted the Olive

Branch Petition adopted by the Second

Continental Congress on July 5 submitted to King George on July 8, 1775.

Attempt to assert the rights of the colonists while maintaining their loyalty to the British crown.

Thomas Pain

The Early LifePain took and ‘e’ when

he arrived in America

Difficult to track 1790s - 1800s Biographers really hatchet men for Government needed to attack the upstart nation

but we can put together a general outline

Born January 29 1737

Thetford, Norfolk 70 miles north

of London a long history

around 5th Century

11th Century one of largest in Britain

By time Pain born Thetford was a relative backwater both politically and economically

Plenty of open spaces and animal life to interest and entertain young Pain

but also signs of social dissension

ruined monasteries, priories, and chapels sign of religious turmoil over the

years

Family Joseph Pain - Father Devout Quaker Well established tradesman

corset maker Frances Cocke - Mother

11 years older than Joseph Daughter of attorney Devout C of E Frances married “below her station”

Parents had high hopes for their son

enrolled in grammar school at the age of 6

remained in school until the age of 13 had to leave due to inability to

master Latin nevertheless this was a good

foundation found himself to be a good writer

Two school incidents had major influence in later life

1st - one teacher talked incessantly about his adventures aboard a man-o-war when younger

2nd later reported by Pain “I happened, when a school boy,

to pick up a pleasing natural history of Virginia, and my influence from that day of seeing the western side of the Atlantic never left me.”

Age 13 Left – or was asked to

leave – school Became bound in his

fathers shop as apprentice stay maker

Looking back later Pain was to look back at this time with fondness

Also gave him a skill that supported on and off for the next 20 years

Pain spent a great deal of time with Father

As a Quaker – his father had refused to accept the articles of Faith demanded by the C of E

Pain’s first exposure to rebellion and independence of ideology?

Also exposed him to scripture which he would later in his writings

Appeal to the working population of America

Despite this near death experience Pain was not put off

Less than one year later he tried again

This time more successfully Onboard the King of Prussia Two years “before the mast” Several victorious battles

Problem with his position Thetford only had work for one stay-

maker Father still young, what will Pain do? At age 19, in 1756, Pain ran away

from home Beginning of French and Indian war Pain joined a Privateer Experience, in retrospect, seemed a

moment that fate was protecting Pain

Pain agreed to sail on a Privateer called the

Terrible And believe it or not the Captain’s name

was Captain Death The Terrible engaged the French ship

Vengeance Full scale battle, Terrible lost 150 crew,

including all officers However, Pain not aboard – father had

hurried to London and persuaded him not to go

Walked away with £30.00

Amount his father would have earned in a year

Also exposed Pain to Death, Destruction, and the common fighting man

After leaving the ship

Worked as a journeyman stay-maker

In London and then Dover

Eventually got enough money to set up shop

Coastal town of Sandwich

Pain married Mary Lambert Pain’s business failed – he was a

good stay-maker but bad business man

Couple left town running from debts

Moved to Margate a little up coast

Tragedy struck, his wife died Left the stay-maker trade

Late wife’s father was an officer in excise service

Persuaded Pain to try for a position

Returned to Thetford Passed entrance exam in

December 1 1762 First position in Alford

Lincolnshire began in 1764 Fired for not doing job in

Then worked for a while as a Stay-maker again

Before spending a couple of years as a teacher

July 1767 reinstated as excise officer

Accepted a post in Lewes, Sussex

Like his ship born adventure this second attempt was more successful

Pain took lodgings with Samuel Ollive and family

Owner of general store Former constable Onetime owner of White Hart Tavern

Ollive died in 1769, Pain offered to help with the store

March 26,1771 married his second wife Elizabeth Ollive, daughter of Samuel

Marriage of convenience

During his time in Lewes Pain’s political development continued

As an excise officer (tax collector) he had opportunity to see

“the numerous and various distresses which the weight of taxes…occasioned” (George III was passing the cost of

French and Indian war to the British Population)

Also became involved in local political scene

The White Hart was the centre of local intelligentsia

Also the location for seat of town council

Pain served on the council Also wrote several well received

poems and articles Was also invited to a campaign

song for a local politician Rumbold, a Whig

As the economic position of the country dropped

Excise officers also suffered Decided to press their situation in front

of Parliament Pain was elected to write the official

petition “Case of the Officers of Excise” The petition sought to work within the

system for change.

1772 Pain left for London to promote the petition and the cause

The petition would fail to win support Lack of influential backers

Pain dismissed from his post due to dereliction of duty

In London he was introduced to several groups of intellectuals People who supported Newton process of

hypothesis and experimentation To whom nothing was beyond the reach of

reason and scientific inquiry

“Club of Honest Whigs”

Joseph Priestly Clergyman and

political commentator

Also one of the worlds most well known scientists and politicians of the time

Benjamin Franklin