This paper concludes that Lord North’s ineptness as Prime Minister significantly influenced the failure of Britain’s ability to maintain control of its North American colonies. This conclusion concurs with the majority opinion of North’s historiography, but disagreement remains regarding the factors which led to the downfall of his administration. The opinion of one camp of historians emphasizes North’s inabilities to efficiently run the Ministry. North’s personal connections to the King, along with the King’s desire to play a greater role in the Ministry, created an executive body unable to correctly address the needs of Britain and the Empire. No doubt exists regarding North’s successes as a member of the Privy Council; however, he continually failed throughout the 1770s to provide quick and decisive leadership for the House of Commons. He chose instead to wait for his subordinates (Secretaries of Council) to address challenging problems. Other historians argue that the very nature of the British Empire, and its diplomacy with Europe, doomed British efforts in North America. North’s entire administration held equal responsibility in creating this context that lost the colonies. British ambassadors failed to limit foreign involvement during the American Rebellion, particularly the Bourbon states, and created a multinational war in Europe. Further, British military strategy relied heavily upon the armies and mercenaries of allied nations; however, in 1775, Britain found itself alone and now fighting a global war. Essentially, British Imperial administrative practices created a powder keg well before North took office.
| Presenter: | James Eick (Undergraduate Student) |
|---|---|
| Topic: | History |
| Location: | 122 Hartwell |
| Time: | 11:30 am (Session II) Please note that presentation times are approximate. If you are interested in attending sessions with multiple presentations, please be in the room at the start of the session. |
Zotero (Education focus)
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Naturalization Ceremony
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Leadership Program Kick-off
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ADP Distinguished Speaker Series "The Audacity to Heal: Our Rape Culture"
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