Source 1: The state of the English colonies, 1755 from the Maryland Gazette, originally published in London’s Gentlemen’s Magazine
This source provides an overview of Virginia from a British perspective for a British audience. Note that the writer provides considerable detail about the advantages Virginia possessed. Given the writer’s claim that “French have many Years envied” Virginia, how do these details support the writer’s stance?
Source: https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/thirteen-colonies/resources/state-english-colonies-1755
Virginia, is the most ancient of all the Colonies, and is of great Extent, having about 180 Miles Sea Coast; and its Extent back in the Country is unbounded. The Soil is extremely good, producing all Sorts of European and Indian Corn, in great Abundance; but is most famous for Tobacco. As it lies in 37 Degrees it is not so cold as the other Northern Colonies, and therefore, as the Farmer is not obliged to procure so much Hay for his Cattle in Winter, they have great Stocks of black Cattle. They have very fine Rivers, all well supplied with Fish, and wild and tame Fowl in prodigious Quantities. The People live in great Plenty, but are not quite so Numerous as in some other Colonies, because they employ Negroes in the raising of their Tobacco. Williamsburg is the Capital of the Province, but is not large. Here their Courts are kept and their Governor resides: Here they also have a College, at which the Youth receive their Education. In New-England are two Universities, Cambridge and Newhaven, which are very large and elegant Buildings, and have very considerable Libraries. No Country is better supplied with fine Rivers than Virginia; so that Ships from England go 150 Miles up them to load at the Planter’s Door with Tobacco, the Revenue of which Article to the Crown is prodigious; and vast Quantities of it are imported to Britain, and exported again to other Countries, which we pay in Cloths, Stuffs, Hardware, and every other Manufacture
...the British Empire in North-America; which from Nova-Scotia to Georgia, is a Tract of 1600 Miles Sea-Coast; [is] a Country productive of all the Necessaries and Conveniences of Life. . . . This is the Country, which the French have many Years envied us, and which they have been long meditating to make themselves Masters of . . . Everyone knows, that the English were the first and only Europeans who settled Virginia . . . the Invaders from Canada must be subdued.”
Source 2 Painting: British victory at Plassey in Bengal, on June 23rd, 1757
Source: http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/battle-plassey#sthash.4QQ8i5Fd.dpuf
The battle at Plassey may have been relatively small, but its impact on Indian history was massive. In this battle--which was so small that it is sometimes referred to as a skirmish--British forces fought on behalf of the East India Company, defeating the ruler of Bengal and his French allies. This victory cemented British influence in the region, allowing Britain and the East India Company to rule Bengal from behind the scenes. By the 1770s, East India Company officials were governors, judges, and officials of the Bengalese state. Initially, the legal system was based on Indian traditions. Key British figures believed that maintaining the legal traditions of the regions were in the best interests of Bengal; thus, British judges initially tried cases according to Islamic or Hindu customs. In the following decades, however, this view was replaced by a desire to impose British culture and traditions in the region.
This painting depicts Robert Clive, head of the British forces, meeting with Mir Jafar after the battle. Clive made Mir Jafar nawab, or emperor, after Plassey, but the real power lay with Clive.
Alt Text: This is a painting with a British General, Robert Clive, in a red coat and tricorn had in the centre left of the painting. He is surrounded by other men in red coats and tricorn hats. One of them is holding a red flag with the Union Jack (the British flag) in the corner. Mir Jafar is facing Clive, he is dressed in rich robes with a turban on his head. He appears to be bowing to Clive. He is surrounded by courtiers in similar rich robes. There is an Indian man holding a rearing horse in the left foreground, and an Indian man driving an elephant in the right background.
Source 3: The death of General Wolfe, 1759 (painting by Benjamin West, 1771)
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_of_General_Wolfe#/media/File:Benjamin_West_005.jpg
This painting depicts the death of General Wolfe, leader of the British forces at the Battle of Quebec. The battle itself, which took place on the Plains of Abraham between fairly small British and French forces, was only fifteen minutes long; Wolfe was mortally wounded within the opening moments.
Still, the long-term consequences of this short battle were substantial. French forces were forced to leave the city, never to return. While French forces continued to fight elsewhere in the colonies, the Battle of Quebec was a turning point for French in the Americas; British control of the French settlements was only a matter of time.
The Battle of Quebec was part of the Annus Mirabilis, or miraculous year, of 1759, a term used to describe a time during which the English enjoyed repeated victories against the French around the globe. Upon hearing the news of Wolfe’s victory, British politician Horace Walpole exclaimed “Our Bells are worn threadbare with ringing for victory.”
Source for quotation: http://www.cambridge.org/be/academic/subjects/history/british-history-after-1450/bells-victory-pitt-newcastle-ministry-and-conduct-seven-years-war-1757-1762?format=PB&isbn=9780521521321
Alt Text: General Wolfe is at the centre of this painting. He is dressed in red, lying on the ground and surrounded by soldiers, and officers mostly also dressed in red. There is a British Flag being held above him, an indigenous man sitting watching in the foreground and scenes of battle on land and river in the background.
Source 4: Minavavana, a Chippewa chief, addressing trader Alexander Henry, as recorded by Henry, 1761
Source: http://www.smithsoniansource.org/display/primarysource/viewdetails.aspx?PrimarySourceId=1183
This address was given by Minavavana to a British trader following the defeat of the French by the British. In the address, Minavavana asserts that his people are not subject to British rule. In particular, note how he uses the terms father and brother to define this relationship.
“Englishman, although you have conquered the French, you have not yet conquered us! We are not your slaves. . . .
Englishman, our father, the King of France, employed our young men to make war upon your nation. In this warfare many of them have been killed, and it is our custom to retaliate until such time as the spirits of the slain are satisfied. But the spirits of the slain are to be satisfied in either of two ways; the first is by the spilling of the blood of the nation by which they fell; the other by covering the bodies of the dead, and thus allaying the resentment of their relations. This is done by making presents.
Englishman, your king has never sent us any presents, . . . wherefore he and we are still at war; and until he does these things we must consider that we have no other father, nor friend among the white men than the King of France. . . . You do not come armed with an intention to make war. . . . We shall regard you, therefore, as a brother. . . . As a token of our friendship we present you with this pipe to smoke.”
Source 5: The Attack of Manilla, October 1762
Source: https://www.wdl.org/en/item/213/#q=seven+years+war&time_periods=1700-1799
Alt Text: See description in text
This map shows the British attack of Manilla, a city in the Spanish colony of the Philippines. It is highly detailed, depicting the British navy and where the troops landed. The British maintained control of the colony until 1764, when it was returned to the Spanish as part of a peace treaty.
The attack reflects the global nature of the Seven Years War. Manilla is over 10 000 kilometers away from London over land, and much farther away by sea; thus, it was one of the theatres of war farthest away from Britain. It also provides insight into Britain’s victory in the war itself. The key to Britain’s success in Manilla and elsewhere was its navy, which was far superior to the navies of its adversaries. In fact, its navy allowed Britain to surpass France as the world’s great power.
Source 6: Royal Proclamation of 1763
Source: http://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/royal_proclamation_1763/
Alt Text: A map of Southeastern North America showing independent colonies from Maine to Georgia, Indian Reserve west of the Mississippi River and Spanish territories to the west of that. See text for further description.
The Royal Proclamation of 1763 outlines the administration and governance of the territories surrendered by the French to the British. The section below outlines the rights granted to the Indigenous peoples, including control of all land west of the Mississippi River to the Spanish territories in the west. This was highly controversial in the Thirteen Colonies because it limited their westward expansion; thus, the Royal Proclamation was one of the causes of the American War of Independence.
And whereas it is just and reasonable, and essential to our Interest, and the Security of our Colonies, that the several Nations or Tribes of Indians with whom We are connected, and who live under our Protection, should not be molested or disturbed in the Possession of such Parts of Our Dominions and Territories as, not having been ceded to or purchased by Us, are reserved to them. or any of them, as their Hunting Grounds.
And We do further declare it to be Our Royal Will and Pleasure, for the present as aforesaid, to reserve under our Sovereignty, Protection, and Dominion, for the use of the said Indians, all the Lands and Territories not included within the Limits of Our said Three new Governments, or within the Limits of the Territory granted to the Hudson's Bay Company, as also all the Lands and Territories lying to the Westward of the Sources of the Rivers which fall into the Sea from the West and North West as aforesaid.
And We do hereby strictly forbid, on Pain of our Displeasure, all our loving Subjects from making any Purchases or Settlements whatever, or taking Possession of any of the Lands above reserved. without our especial leave and Licence for that Purpose first obtained.
And.
We do further strictly enjoin and require all Persons whatever who have either wilfully or inadvertently seated themselves upon any Lands within the Countries above described. or upon any other Lands which, not having been ceded to or purchased by Us, are still reserved to the said Indians as aforesaid, forthwith to remove themselves from such Settlements.
And whereas great Frauds and Abuses have been committed in purchasing Lands of the Indians, to the great Prejudice of our Interests. and to the great Dissatisfaction of the said Indians: In order, therefore, to prevent such Irregularities for the future, and to the end that the Indians may be convinced of our Justice and determined Resolution to remove all reasonable Cause of Discontent, We do. with the Advice of our Privy Council strictly enjoin and require. that no private Person do presume to make any purchase from the said Indians of any Lands reserved to the said Indians, within those parts of our Colonies where, We have thought proper to allow Settlement: but that. if at any Time any of the Said Indians should be inclined to dispose of the said Lands, the same shall be Purchased only for Us, in our Name, at some public Meeting or Assembly of the said Indians, to be held for that Purpose by the Governor or Commander in Chief of our Colony respectively within which they shall lie: and in case they shall lie within the limits of any Proprietary Government. they shall be purchased only for the Use and in the name of such Proprietaries, conformable to such Directions and Instructions as We or they shall think proper to give for that Purpose: And we do. by the Advice of our Privy Council, declare and enjoin, that the Trade with the said Indians shall be free and open to all our Subjects whatever. provided that every Person who may incline to Trade with the said Indians do take out a Licence for carrying on such Trade from the Governor or Commander in Chief of any of our Colonies respectively where such Person shall reside. and also give Security to observe such Regulations as We shall at any Time think fit. by ourselves or by our Commissaries to be appointed for this Purpose, to direct and appoint for the Benefit of the said Trade.
Source 7: The Quebec Act, 1774
The Quebec Act was an attempt by the British parliament to secure the loyalty of colonists in Quebec and other conquered colonies. The need for their allegiance had become more pressing with the discontent in the Thirteen Colonies; Britain feared that if revolution occurred in the Thirteen Colonies, the revolution might spread to Quebec. Thus, the Quebec Act outlined three key provisions. First, it granted colonists in Quebec the right to practice Catholicism, and waived the legal requirement to swear religious allegiance to the Church of England. Second, it expanded the borders of Quebec. Third, it reorganized the administration of the colony. An excerpt pertaining to the religious freedoms is below:
And, for the more perfect Security and Ease of the Minds of the Inhabitants of the said Province, it is hereby declared: That his Majesty's Subjects, professing the Religion of the Church of Rome of and in the said Province of Quebec, may have, hold, and enjoy, the free Exercise of the Religion of the Church of Rome, subject to the King's Supremacy, declared and established by an Act, made in the first Year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, over all the Dominions and Countries which then did, or thereafter should belong, to the Imperial Crown of this Realm; and that the Clergy of the said Church may hold, receive, and enjoy, their accustomed Dues and Rights, with respect to such Persons only as shall profess the said Religion.
The Thirteen Colonies disapproved of all three provisions, but the third was particularly contentious. Colonists worried that if Britain could arbitrarily restructure the government of Quebec, it might attempt the same thing in the Thirteen Colonies. Below is a cartoon demonstrating some of the colonists’ concerns. Note the Quebec Act is one of the papers on the ground spurring American resentment of the British.
Source: http://ushistoryscene.com/article/quebec-act/
Source: Stephens, Frederic George; George, Mary Dorothy, Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum, 11 vols, London, BMP, 1870
Alt Text: A cartoon showing a street scene of people in early American colonial dress with speech bubbles of protest. Their clothes are in rags, and many of them say they are starving. They are all pointing to a stagecoach being driven by the British. The Quebec Act is one of several papers lying in the street, representing broken promises to the Americans.
Source 8: Political Testament of Frederick II ("the Great") (1752, revised 1768)
This excerpt is from a document that is unusual for several reasons. First, it was written by Frederick the Great of Prussia in 1752 and revised by him in 1768; thus, it is both before and after the Seven Years War. It was also a private document intended only for his successor; it is essentially a handbook intended to help his successor rule effectively. The excerpt is from Frederick’s thoughts about foreign policy:
Source: http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/docpage.cfm?docpage_id=3763
In view of the present situation, you can easily see that Prussia will never lack for allies. To choose them, one must divest oneself of any personal hatred and of any prejudice, favorable or unfavorable. The interest of the State is the only consideration that should decide the counsel of a Prince. Our present interest, especially since the acquisition of Silesia, is to remain united with France, as with all the enemies of Austria. Silesia and Lorraine are two sisters, of whom Prussia has married the elder and France the younger. This alliance forces them to follow the same policy. Prussia could not watch unmoved while Alsace and Lorraine were taken from France, and Prussia’s diversions in favor of France are efficacious, because they carry the war immediately into the heart of the Hereditary Provinces [of Austria]. France, for similar reasons, cannot suffer Austria to recover Silesia, because that would weaken too greatly an ally of France, which is useful to her for the affairs of the North and of the Empire and whose diversions (as I have just said) provide certain safety for Lorraine and Alsace, in case of acute and unforeseen danger. [ . . .]
