View
212
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
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.
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.
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.
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