The Restoration in England marked a pivotal shift in governance, ending Puritan rule and restoring the monarchy under Charles II in 1660. This change rippled across the Atlantic, impacting the American colonies through increased royal control, new trade regulations, and the establishment of fresh colonial territories.

The Restoration colonies, including Carolina, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, emerged with distinct characteristics. These new territories, along with the Navigation Acts, reshaped colonial trade and governance, setting the stage for future tensions between England and its American possessions.

The Restoration and Its Impact on England and the Colonies

Causes and effects of English Restoration

• Causes of the Restoration in England
  • Cromwell's death in 1658 created a power vacuum leading to political instability
  • Richard Cromwell, Oliver's son, lacked political and military support to maintain control
  • English people grew tired of military rule and religious extremism under Puritan leadership
  • Charles II, the exiled son of Charles I, gained support from Parliament and the public to restore the monarchy
• Effects of the Restoration in England
  • Monarchy restored under Charles II in 1660, ending the period of republican rule
  • Church of England reestablished as the official state church, reversing Puritan religious reforms
  • Parliament gained more power and influence in government, limiting the absolute authority of the monarch
  • Religious toleration increased for some Protestant groups (Anglicans, Presbyterians), but Catholics still faced discrimination
• Effects of the Restoration on the colonies
  • Royal control over the colonies increased through the appointment of royal governors and the creation of new colonies
  • Navigation Acts passed to regulate colonial trade, benefiting English merchants and limiting colonial economic autonomy
  • Restoration colonies established (Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware) under royal charters or grants to proprietors

Characteristics of Restoration colonies

• Carolina
  • Established in 1663 as a proprietary colony granted to eight English noblemen
  • Split into North and South Carolina in 1712 due to political and economic differences
  • Developed a plantation economy based on slave labor, primarily growing rice, indigo, and cotton
  • Charleston became a major port city and cultural center, known for its architecture and social life
• New York
  • Formerly the Dutch colony of New Netherland, conquered by the English in 1664
  • Granted to the Duke of York (later James II), who renamed it New York and established a colonial government
  • Diverse population including Dutch, English, and various religious groups (Anglicans, Quakers, Jews)
  • New York City became a major commercial and cultural hub, known for its trade and cosmopolitan character
• New Jersey
  • Originally part of New Netherland, divided into East and West Jersey after English conquest
  • Each region had its own proprietors and attracted settlers with promises of religious tolerance and land grants
  • Reunited as a single royal colony in 1702, ending the proprietary system
  • Developed a diverse economy based on agriculture, trade, and small-scale manufacturing
• Pennsylvania and Delaware
  • Founded by William Penn, a Quaker, in 1681 as a haven for religious tolerance
  • Pennsylvania named after Penn's father, Admiral Sir William Penn
  • Delaware initially part of Pennsylvania but gained a separate assembly in 1704
  • Philadelphia became a major port city and cultural center, known for its grid layout and intellectual life

Impact of Navigation Acts

• Navigation Acts (1651, 1660, 1663, 1696) regulated colonial trade to benefit England (an example of mercantilism)
  • Required colonial trade to be conducted through English ships and ports, ensuring English control over colonial commerce
  • Prohibited colonists from trading directly with other European nations, protecting English merchants from competition
  • Enumerated certain goods (tobacco, sugar, cotton, indigo) that could only be exported to England or its colonies
• Impact on colonial trade
  • Limited colonial economic growth and diversification by restricting trade opportunities
  • Encouraged smuggling and illicit trade with other nations (Dutch, French, Spanish) to circumvent regulations
  • Benefited English merchants and shipping industries at the expense of colonial interests and profits
• Impact on relations with England
  • Created resentment among colonists who felt their economic freedoms were restricted by the mother country
  • Contributed to growing tensions between the colonies and England over issues of taxation and representation
  • Laid the groundwork for future conflicts (Stamp Act, Tea Act) that would eventually lead to the American Revolution

Colonial Governance and Society

• Proprietary colonies: Territories granted to individuals or groups by the crown, who had the right to govern and profit from the land
• Colonial charters: Legal documents issued by the crown that established the framework for colonial governance and rights
• Religious tolerance: Varying degrees of acceptance for different religious practices, often used to attract settlers to new colonies
• Absolutism: A system of government where the monarch held supreme authority, which the English sought to avoid after the Restoration