This document discusses the politics of empire and colonization between 1550-1750. Specifically, it outlines the competition between European powers like England, Spain, France, and the Netherlands for control of colonies and trade in the New World. This led to a series of wars throughout the 16th-17th-18th centuries as these countries sought to monopolize land, resources, peoples and trade in the Americas and globally. It also discusses the English conquest and colonization of Ireland and how that model was applied in British colonies in North America and the Caribbean.

1. US History # 5
Politics of empire & colonization,
1550 - 1750

2. announcements
• Midterm exam: Tuesday 15/11/11, 10:10 –
11:45.
• Exam covers everything: power points,
lectures, discussion, assigned reading.
• There will be choices of questions.
• No dictionaries, please.

3. Competition for colonies & trade:
England, Spain, France, Netherlands
• series of wars throughout 16th, 17th, 18th
centuries.
• desire to control New World land, resources,
peoples, and to monopolize trade.
• religious competition in most wars
(Protestant, Catholic, dissenting Protestants).
• shifting alliances among European countries.
• wars fought on oceans, in colonies around the
world, and in Europe.

4. Pope, Archbishop of Canterbury,
Puritan leader

5. English conquest of Ireland
• Warfare, late 16th c – imposition of English
centralized rule, language, law, & culture.
• Imposition of Anglicanism on Catholic Ireland.
• Occupation by English troops & colonization
by English people.
• Ended autonomous, armed, clan-based
lordships.
• Treatment of Irish a model for treatment of
Africans in British colonies.

6. Irish “savages”
• British believed civilized people
could not mix w savages, such as
Irish. Brought this idea to New
World.

7. Internal political & religious change in
England
• Civil War, 1642 – 1651
• Puritans, led by Oliver Cromwell, executed king,
created Commonwealth, ended Anglican
monopoly.
• monarchy restored 1660.
• Parliament deposed James II
for Mary & William of Orange,
1688, Glorious Revolution.
• Bill of Rights – England now a
constitutional monarchy.

8. Wars for empire (and religious
dominance)
• Anglo-Dutch wars, 1650s – 1670s. English
became the Atlantic power. New York colony
became English.
• English trade monopoly of Atlantic coast.
• Intermittent wars between England & France
(usually allied with Spain) for control of North
American interior, 1689 – 1763.
• France typically had Indian allies.

9. Wars for empire
• 1713 – Spain yielded exclusive right to England
to supply slaves to British colonies.
• In northern colonies, wars over control of
Indian trade.

10. Indian participation in wars
• Among British, French, & Spanish, various
Indian nations attempted to play off
Europeans against one another & to gain allies
against their Indian
enemies.

12. colonial politics
• 1st colonial assembly established Jamestown, 1619.
• voters were white, male, adult, propertied.
• during English Civil War & aftermath, colonial
legislatures grew powerful & independent.
• colonists rebelled against royal governors.
• English imposed royal government on all colonies
except Pennsylvania (proprietary), Massachusetts,
Connecticut.
• Development of self-government. Spanish & French
colonies completely governed from Europe.

13. • Jamestown, 1619
• Election day, with
candidates supplying
alcohol, 18th c.

14. English attempts to control colonies
• Navigation Acts – 2nd half of 17th c – all trade
between British & its colonies had to be on
ships built in England or British colonies.
• Other nations forbidden to trade with British
colonies.
• No competition with home country industries
– wool, hat, & iron production forbidden.
• Huge growth of trade between England &
colonies, 1700 – 1760.

15. mercantilism
• Political control of economy by the state.
System designed to benefit the “mother”
country.
• Slavery stimulated manufacturing w/ a huge
colonial market for exports – textiles, metal
products, shipwares.
• Profit from slavery a source of investment –
modern banks, insurance companies, growth
of British ports.

16. Ports: Bristol & Liverpool