Savior of the Empire
1765 - 1767: North American colonial resistance to their British masters increases with the introduction of several “outrageous” bills, including the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts. William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, stands up for the colonists and, the next year, is appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
1768: Prime Minister Pitt, in an attempt to save his failing ministry, proposes a radical idea, hoping to avoid the revolution he sees on the horizon in North America. Instead of forcing a potentially costly war (in terms of pride and men) with their North American colonies, Pitt proposes that they modify the Albany Plan of Union first presented to the British government in 1754 and rejected by King George II. Pitt advises King George III to modify the Plan and put it in place, thus assuring the obedience of the North American colonies.
George III, after months of arguing, agrees to accept the modified-Plan, on the grounds that William Pitt, who George has always hated, resigns his post. As his Ministry was failing anyhow, and the improvements in America weren’t likely to bring about any more popular support in Great Britain itself, Pitt agrees and resigns the day after the American Acts were signed by Parliament and King George III.
Robert Clive, the hero of India, is appointed by King George as the Governor-General of the Dominion of America, while George’s younger brother, William, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh becomes the only official noble in America and the personal representative of the British Royal Family. The Acts create an American Parliament, the only body capable of taxing the American colonies (although, they must pay a tax to the British government) and establishes a small, professional military to defend the American continent. At first, only the thirteen ‘traditionally’ American colonies (that is, all colonies excluding the Caribbean, Nova Scotia, and Quebec) sign the American Acts.
1765 - 1767: North American colonial resistance to their British masters increases with the introduction of several “outrageous” bills, including the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts. William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, stands up for the colonists and, the next year, is appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
1768: Prime Minister Pitt, in an attempt to save his failing ministry, proposes a radical idea, hoping to avoid the revolution he sees on the horizon in North America. Instead of forcing a potentially costly war (in terms of pride and men) with their North American colonies, Pitt proposes that they modify the Albany Plan of Union first presented to the British government in 1754 and rejected by King George II. Pitt advises King George III to modify the Plan and put it in place, thus assuring the obedience of the North American colonies.
George III, after months of arguing, agrees to accept the modified-Plan, on the grounds that William Pitt, who George has always hated, resigns his post. As his Ministry was failing anyhow, and the improvements in America weren’t likely to bring about any more popular support in Great Britain itself, Pitt agrees and resigns the day after the American Acts were signed by Parliament and King George III.
Robert Clive, the hero of India, is appointed by King George as the Governor-General of the Dominion of America, while George’s younger brother, William, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh becomes the only official noble in America and the personal representative of the British Royal Family. The Acts create an American Parliament, the only body capable of taxing the American colonies (although, they must pay a tax to the British government) and establishes a small, professional military to defend the American continent. At first, only the thirteen ‘traditionally’ American colonies (that is, all colonies excluding the Caribbean, Nova Scotia, and Quebec) sign the American Acts.