Government in Colonies

The first articles dealt with the government (or proposed government) of the Colonies during a war with the French, and the terms of land use as well as treatment of Natives after the war. The other articles give a Native perspective on the Royal Proclamation, a colonial soldier's diary of a winter spent with the British regulars, and an account of colonial newspaper articles and their influence during the war.

The articles on law and land use provide a good bit of insight into the difference between British and American feelings at the time. The Albany Plan shows that colonials did not seek to separate from England entirely, rather that they wanted a home rule with British assistance. The Plan also shows a good bit more leniencies in the ways of democracy as well. The Royal Proclamation on the other hand seemed stricter; perhaps this was a conveyance of British thought as the Clough piece also alludes to these feelings. The two pieces of legislation do show a distinct separation of political thought between England and her colonies. Perhaps this "separation" was a cause that led to eventual revolution. The last piece on the newspapers appeared quite different then its predecessors. It did involve the war but aside from that the feeling of the article was much different then the others, giving information on the media approach to the conflict rather then the political one. This piece really brings together an understanding of how anti British sentiment could easily of been spread at the time. I was under the assumption that the media of the colonies was slow, confined, and unreliable, but the article hints at exactly the opposite. One could easily see how not only were the American Colonies aware were of what was happening around them, but that they believed what the papers told them. All of the readings can be dissected to show that tensions, and knowledge was changing in the colonies, and situations were being put in place between the British, Colonials, and Natives, that would eventually lead to conflict.

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