The chapter discusses the transition of Britain's North American empire in the late 18th century, including the loosening of ties between Britain and its colonies, struggles over land with France and Native American groups, and the growing unrest in the colonies that eventually led to the American Revolution. As Britain tightened control over the colonies after the Seven Years' War, the colonies increasingly resisted British policies through protests and boycotts. This rising tensions came to a head at Lexington and Concord, marking the official start of the Revolutionary War.

1. Alan Brinkley,Alan Brinkley,
American HistoryAmerican History 14/e14/e
Chapter 4:Chapter 4:
The Empire in TransitionThe Empire in Transition

2. HighlightsHighlights
 Loosening TiesLoosening Ties
 The Struggle for the ContinentThe Struggle for the Continent
 The New ImperialismThe New Imperialism
 Stirrings of RevoltStirrings of Revolt
 Cooperation and WarCooperation and War
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3. Loosening TiesLoosening Ties
 A Tradition of NeglectA Tradition of Neglect
– Growing Power of ParliamentGrowing Power of Parliament
– Decentralized Colonial AdministrationDecentralized Colonial Administration
– Powerful Colonial LegislaturesPowerful Colonial Legislatures
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4. Loosening TiesLoosening Ties
 The Colonies DividedThe Colonies Divided
– Albany PlanAlbany Plan
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A map of the New WorldA map of the New World
(Royalty-Free/CORBIS)(Royalty-Free/CORBIS)

5. The Struggle for the ContinentThe Struggle for the Continent
– An Uneasy Balance of PowerAn Uneasy Balance of Power
 New France and the Iroquois NationNew France and the Iroquois Nation
– New Sources of ConflictNew Sources of Conflict
– France’s North American EmpireFrance’s North American Empire
– The Iroquois ConfederacyThe Iroquois Confederacy
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6. The Struggle for the ContinentThe Struggle for the Continent
 Anglo-French ConflictsAnglo-French Conflicts
– European Seeds of ConflictEuropean Seeds of Conflict
– Fort NecessityFort Necessity
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A French map ofA French map of
North America, 1758North America, 1758
(Royalty-Free/CORBIS)(Royalty-Free/CORBIS)

7. The Struggle for the ContinentThe Struggle for the Continent
 The Great War for the EmpireThe Great War for the Empire
– Braddock DefeatedBraddock Defeated
– William Pitt Takes ChargeWilliam Pitt Takes Charge
– Siege of QuebecSiege of Quebec
– Pease of ParisPease of Paris
– Consequences of the Seven Years’ WarConsequences of the Seven Years’ War
© 2012, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.7

8. The Struggle for the ContinentThe Struggle for the Continent
© 2012, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.8
The Seven Years’ WarThe Seven Years’ War

9. The New ImperialismThe New Imperialism
 Burdens of EmpireBurdens of Empire
– Commercial versus Territorial ImperialistsCommercial versus Territorial Imperialists
– Britain’s Staggering War DebtBritain’s Staggering War Debt
– George III’s ShortcomingsGeorge III’s Shortcomings
 The British and the TribesThe British and the Tribes
– Proclamation of 1763Proclamation of 1763
– White EncroachmentWhite Encroachment
© 2012, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.9

10. The New ImperialismThe New Imperialism
© 2012, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.10
The Thirteen Colonies in 1763The Thirteen Colonies in 1763

11. The New ImperialismThe New Imperialism
 The Colonial ResponseThe Colonial Response
– Sugar, Currency, and Stamp ActsSugar, Currency, and Stamp Acts
– Paxton BoysPaxton Boys
– Regulator MovementRegulator Movement
– Postwar DepressionPostwar Depression
– Political Consequences of the GrenvillePolitical Consequences of the Grenville
ProgramProgram
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12. The New ImperialismThe New Imperialism
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North America in 1763North America in 1763

13. Stirrings of RevoltStirrings of Revolt
 The Stamp Act CrisisThe Stamp Act Crisis
– Effects of the Stamp ActEffects of the Stamp Act
– Virginia ResolvesVirginia Resolves
– Sons of LibertySons of Liberty
– Parliament RetreatsParliament Retreats
 Internal RebellionsInternal Rebellions
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The Tory’s Day of JudgmentThe Tory’s Day of Judgment
(Library of Congress)(Library of Congress)

14. Stirrings of RevoltStirrings of Revolt
 The Townshend ProgramThe Townshend Program
– Mutiny ActMutiny Act
– Internal and External TaxesInternal and External Taxes
– Colonial BoycottsColonial Boycotts
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15. Stirrings of RevoltStirrings of Revolt
 The Boston MassacreThe Boston Massacre
– Competition forCompetition for
Scarce EmploymentScarce Employment
– Samuel AdamsSamuel Adams
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The Boston MassacreThe Boston Massacre
(Library of Congress)(Library of Congress)

16. Stirrings of RevoltStirrings of Revolt
 The Philosophy of RevoltThe Philosophy of Revolt
– England’s Balanced ConstitutionEngland’s Balanced Constitution
– Virtual versus Actual RepresentationVirtual versus Actual Representation
 The Tea ExcitementThe Tea Excitement
– Revolutionary DiscourseRevolutionary Discourse
– The Tea ActThe Tea Act
– Boston Tea PartyBoston Tea Party
– Coercive ActsCoercive Acts
– ConsequencesConsequences
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17. Cooperation and WarCooperation and War
 New Sources of AuthorityNew Sources of Authority
– First Continental CongressFirst Continental Congress
– The Conciliatory PropositionsThe Conciliatory Propositions
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18. Cooperation and WarCooperation and War
 Lexington and ConcordLexington and Concord
– General Thomas GageGeneral Thomas Gage
– The Revolution BeginsThe Revolution Begins
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Recruiting posterRecruiting poster
(Library of Congress)(Library of Congress)

19. Cooperation and WarCooperation and War
© 2012, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.19
The Battles of Lexington and Concord, 1775The Battles of Lexington and Concord, 1775