eBook

Defying Empire

Thomas M. Truxes

2008

Overview

This enthralling book is the first to uncover the story of New York City merchants who engaged in forbidden trade with the enemy before and during the Seven Years' War (also known as the French and Indian War). Ignoring British prohibitions designed to end North America's wartime trade with the French, New York's merchant elite conducted a thriving business in the French West Indies, insisting that their behavior was protected by long practice and British commercial law. But the government in London viewed it as treachery, and its subsequent efforts to discipline North American commerce inflamed the colonists. Through fast-moving events and unforgettable characters, historian Thomas M. Truxes brings eighteenth-century New York and the Atlantic world to life. There are spies, street riots, exotic settings, informers, courtroom dramas, interdictions on the high seas, ruthless businessmen, political intrigues, and more. The author traces each phase of the city's trade with the enemy and details the frustrations that affected both British officials and independent-minded New Yorkers. The first book to focus on New York City during the Seven Years' War,Defying Empirereveals the important role the city played in hastening the colonies' march toward revolution.

• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Subject: 18th century / Colonial period, ca. 1600–1775 / Commerce / Economic aspects / France / France -- Commerce -- New York (State) -- New York / French and Indian War, 1755–1763 / Great Britain. Royal Navy / Great Britain. Royal Navy -- History -- 18th century / HISTORY / HISTORY / United States / Colonial Period (1600-1775) / HISTORY / United States / Revolutionary Period (1775-1800) / Merchants / Merchants -- New York (State) -- New York -- History -- 18th century / Navy operations, British / New York / New York (N.Y.) / New York (N.Y.) -- Commerce -- France / New York (N.Y.) -- Commerce -- History -- 18th century / New York (N.Y.) -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 / New York (State) / Trials (Treason) / Trials (Treason) -- New York (State) -- New York -- History -- 18th century / United States / United States -- History -- French and Indian War, 1755-1763 -- Economic aspects / United States -- History -- French and Indian War, 1755-1763 -- Naval operations, British / West Indies, French / West Indies, French -- Commerce -- History -- 18th century
• ISBN: 0300118406, 9780300118407, 0300150431, 9780300150438