Chapter I

THE BEGINNINGS PAGE Relations between the American colonies and the British government in the first half of the eighteenth century 1 The Lords of Trade 2 The governors’ salaries 3 Sir Robert Walpole 4 Views of the Lords of Trade as to the need for a union of the colonies 5 Weakness of the sentiment of union 6 The Albany Congress 6 Franklin’s plan for a federal union (1754) 7, 8 Rejection of Franklin’s plan 9 Shirley recommends a stamp act 10 The writs of assistance 11 The chief justice of New York 12 Otis’s “Vindication” 13 Expenses of the French War 14 Grenville’s resolves 15 Reply of the colonies 16 Passage of the Stamp Act 17 Patrick Henry and the Parsons’ Cause 18 Resolutions of Virginia concerning the Stamp Act 19, 20 The Stamp Act Congress 20-22 Declaration of the Massachusetts assembly 22 Resistance to the Stamp Act in Boston 23 And in New York 24 Debate in the House of Commons 25, 26 Repeal of the Stamp Act 26, 27 The Duke of Grafton’s ministry 28 Charles Townshend and his revenue acts 29-31 Attack upon the New York assembly 32 Parliament did not properly represent the British people 32, 33 Difficulty of the problem 34 Representation of Americans in Parliament 35 Mr. Gladstone and the Boers 36 Death of Townshend 37 His political legacy to George III. 37 Character of George III. 38, 39 English parties between 1760 and 1784 40, 41 George III. as a politician 42 His chief reason for quarrelling with the Americans 42, 43