4. Struggles Over Governance in the 18th Century

About this Lecture

Lecture

In this module, we explore the struggles over governance of the British North American colonies in the 18th century. In particular, we will focus on: (i) the effects of the changes in British politics on the American colonies; (ii) the struggles between colonial governors and assemblies; (iii) the establishment of newspapers; (iv) British dissatisfaction with their governor's abilities to control the colonies.

Course

In this course, Professor John Brooke (The Ohio State University) explores colonial politics and political identity from 1607-1754. In the first module, we take a look at some of the motives behind colonisation in North America and how these visions actually played out in reality. After this, we turn to explore how the colonial charters organised the American colonies into distinct and novel political entities from 1607-60. In the next module, we explore the transformation of the American colonies into provinces in the period 1630-1730. After this, we explore the struggles over the governance of the British North American colonies in the 18th century. In the penultimate module, we discuss the Atlantic Turn from 1730-54. In the final module, we explore what British North America was like in 1754.

Lecturer

Professor John Brooke is Warner Woodring Chair in American History and the director of the Center for Historical Research at the Ohio State University (OSU). He specialises in Early American History and Environmental History. He has written widely within these fields, including his books The Heart of the Commonwealth: Society and Political Culture in Worcester County Massachusetts, 1713-1861 and The Refiner's Fire: The Making of Mormon Cosmology, 1644-1844.