Worlds Turned Upside Down Episode 6: The Proclamation
Mar 23, 2024
Fred Anderson, a historian focusing on 18th-century British imperial policy, and Alexandra Montgomery, a digital history scholar specializing in Nova Scotia, dive into the complexities of British imperial reform post-Pontiac’s War. They explore Halifax's unique governance experiments and its role as a blueprint for a coherent empire. The discussion covers the significant impact of the Royal Proclamation on Indigenous relations, colonial administration, and the strategic designs behind the founding of Halifax amidst resistance from the Mi'kmaq and Acadians.
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Cherokee Visit To London
- Asanaku and two Cherokee leaders visited London in 1762 and were presented to King George III after touring major sites.
- Joshua Reynolds painted Asanaku as a “king,” omitting tattoos and dressing him in regal European garb to fit British expectations.
Empire Reimagined After 1763
- After 1763 Britain controlled vast new North American territories and sought to redesign colonial governance.
- The Board of Trade and ministers framed reform as necessary to secure imperial wealth, security, and coherence.
Halifax’s Vision Of Coherent Empire
- Lord Halifax championed centralized, uniform imperial administration to fix the colonies' 'messy' variety.
- He treated Nova Scotia as a laboratory to create a model colony run directly by the crown.
