Colonial History Lecture Series

Free and open to the public.

In 1767, the British Atlantic community experienced a "moment" of sorts. In that year, Charles Townshend assumed the role of Chancellor of the Exchequer. He used his position to try to reshape all the empire and to transform the relationship between Britain and America. Ultimately, he passed a series of duties on select goods, the revenue from which would be sued to create the bases of a new imperial system. He did so as his brother George, named Lord Lieutenant of Ireland at the same time, tried to reform the relationship between that kingdom and Britain.

Instead, what they did forced both sets of provincials to re-imagine their place within the empire. In this talk, Dr. Griffin will explore these episodes as a "moment," in which those at the center of empire and those on tis margins came to believe that they were living during a critical period of time that required urgent action. In the center, this sensibility led to reform. In America it would lead to revolution.

The talk will explore a well-known story but will do so to lay out its critical significance, both for understanding the origins of the American Revolution and fortunes of empire in an age of tumult throughout the Atlantic world.

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