1. AMSCO Chapter 2: The Thirteen Colonies and the British Empire
Emily Stearns

2. Background When was the English Civil War?
Rule on colonies was stricter before English Civil War
1607: Jamestown settled as a royal colony
1629: Massachusetts Bay Colony also settled as a royal colony
Focus was on new source of British income: the colonies

3. Argument
As England focused more on their civil war, colonists became more accustomed to the new land and began to find their voice, resulting in the beginning stages of colonial independence from English rule.

4. Economic Independence
Overproduction of tobacco in Chesapeake colonies
England did nothing to help colonists
1676: Bacon’s Rebellion- colonists resented the royal governor’s policies favoring large planters
Beginning of colonial resistance to royal control

5. Social Independence
Religious persecution in some royal colonies led to other colonies that encouraged religious freedom- different policies than in England
1636: RI founded with complete religious tolerance
Halfway covenant: Puritans realized they were losing followers because of religious persecution

6. Social Independence
1643: New England Confederation unified to fight off Native American attacks
England was too busy with their civil war to help
First time colonists unified against a common force
: NE Confederation fought King Philip’s War together

7. Political Independence
Fundamental Orders of CT: created representative government with popular vote
Founder of NY, James II practiced taxation without representation and angered the people
Frame of Government PA: established representative assemblies

8. Political Independence
Acts of Trade and Navigation ( )
Had some positive effects like prospering industries
More negative effects: not paid much for crops, England raised price of their manufactured goods
Highly resented by the colonists

9. Effects of English Civil War
Could not enforce laws as carefully
Governors of colonies usually lived in England and practiced taxation without representation because they were more focused on the civil war