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1c - relations with Britain - Coggle Diagram
1c - relations with Britain
Colonists
the 13 colonies were tied to Britain by Royal Charters, signed in the 17th C
Royal colonies had governors appointed by the Crown
Propriatory colonies (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania) were governed by an individual who appointed representatives - though still under Crown authority
Corporate colonies (Connecticut, Rhode Island) establshed a colonial assembly which establised rules of government
Governors had considerable power, however they could be dismissed by the govt. and relied on colonial assemblies for revenue
colonial assemblies were responsible for advising the governor, raising revenue, controlling spending, representing the people and approving local legislation
Colonial assemblies were in theory democratic - white male adults could vote, however many were excluded due to property requirements - power therefore lay with with wealthy landowners and merchants
Colonies could pass laws, however these were reviewed by the Crown and the Privy Council, who advised the monarch
Although very few laws were rejected, ultimate authority rested in Britain - the Board of Trade, Treasury, War Office and Admiralty all had a stake in colonial affairs
Howver, close control was impractical - the colonies were 3000 miles from London, and messages could take months to arrive
Britain followed a policy of 'Salutary Neglect', leaving the colonists largely to their own devices and giving a high level of autonomy to colonial assemblies
This policy may have encouraged colonists to feel they were not subject to British legislation - and governors did complain there was a growing sense of independence
The colonists still looked to Britain for economy ties and military protection, especially when threatened by the French
Disputes were mainly between colonies - over boundaries and land claims - rather than with Britain
Native Americans
British settlers made little attempt to adapt to NA culture
Many tribes had been pushed westwards by European settlement
French settlers had a much closer relationship with the NAs - settlers were seen as a source of rewards and trade
The French allowed the NAs to scalp and tar & feather their enemies, and joined them on raids
NAs knew the land and supported the French with guerrilla warfare - raids and ambushes of large British units by smaller groups
Braddock offended some NAs by arguing 'no savage should inherit this land' - those NAs considering supporting Britain returned to the French
By the end of the 1760s Britain was increasingly aware of the need for NA support, as acknowledged at the Congress of Albany
As the Seven Years' War progressed NA tribes increasingly supported Britain due to their economic dominance of trade and welath of rewards available