Papist Devils Catholics in North American British Colonies 9. Catholics and the Road to Independence 2016 George E. Blanford Jr.
The Reshaped British America The Treaty of Paris (1763) radically reshaped the landscape Canada and Florida were ceded to Great Britain Land area of British North American colonies doubled The Catholic population tripled Canada added 70,000 Catholics, 200 priests and 6 communities of religious women vs. 25 priests and no communities of religious women previously Richard Challoner, Vicar Apostolic of London, asked Rome to appoint a bishop for British North America Rome said it was already under consideration (Quebec already had a bishop) American Catholics opposed the appointment of a bishop The pope recognized Charles Edward Stuart as king of England The Pretender s brother, Cardinal York, disliked Jesuits It would rekindle anti-catholicism All Americans also opposed the appointment of an Anglican bishop because it was viewed as the first step toward creating an established religion Right Rev. Richard Challoner (1691-1781) Vicar Apostolic of the London District (1741 1781)
Catholic Expansion Maryland In 1765, ~16,000 Catholic, ~8% of population, ⅓ of the total lived in St. Mary s County Post-war period was very vital for Catholics Increase in percentage of population More priests Between 1766-1775, 7 new churches were built 1 in Baltimore A more open atmosphere for Catholics Jesuits could proselytize without fear of arrest St. Francis Xavier Church Newtown Neck, MD, 1766
Catholic Expansion New York Immigrants, displaced victims of war, and imperial military forces increased the number of Catholics They were institutionally unorganized and left to their own devices to meet their spiritual needs Some at times traveled to Philadelphia to receive sacraments Many more drifted away from the Church, most becoming Anglican By the 1770s, Ferdinand Steinmeyer SJ, alias F. Farmer, would say Mass at a German immigrant s home Pennsylvania Steady growth of Catholics from Irish and German immigrants New England and southern colonies Very few Catholics
Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737 1832) Charles Carroll of Carrollton Returned from Europe Sept. 1764, age 27 As ambitious as his father and grandfather His deft navigation of political seas enabled him to lead the Catholic community back to the center of public life When he returned, he could not attain the highest social levels, practice law or participate in politics He took over management of Carroll estates on the Western Shore He was made a partner in the Baltimore Co. which he improved in efficiency and profitability Over time, he replaced his father in offices for the Lord Proprietor
Aftermath of the Great Awakening and the Seven Years War America A visceral bond was forged among Protestants epitomized by anti-catholicism and a desire for liberty There was a broadening of the term popery to denote any kind of oppression The diminution of Great Britain s two leading rivals, France and Spain, imbued Americans with optimism about geographic and economic growth Great Britain The debt from the war and the cost of administrating its North American colonies skyrocketed British national debt expanded from 72 million to 123 million To maintain adequate troops to defend North American colonies against Indians cost 400,000, twice as much as expected The cost of administering its North American colonies became 6% of England s budget It seemed reasonable to Britain to raise taxes coming from America
Taxes Sugar Act, 1764 What was taxed Imported molasses and wine Certain materials such as iron and lumber had to come from England American objections Did not like the fact that commodity taxes which had been issued to regulate trade were now issued to raise revenue Increased cost for goods to go from one colony to another by way of England Transferring enforcement from colonial courts to vice-admiralty courts Reaction Smuggling and bribery Britain was forced to lower the tax until it was cheaper to pay the tax than to pay a bribe Resulted in a mere fraction of the income that was expected
Taxes Stamp Act, 1765 What was taxed Imported watermarked (stamped) paper had to be used for newspapers, licenses and assorted legal documents American objections Did not like the fact that it affected people almost every day Reaction In Boston, dissenters formed of the Sons of Liberty to organize protest In Maryland, there were protest rallies with tax collectors hanged in effigy and the burning of their supplies to instigate their resignations Formed the Society for the Maintenance of Order and Protection of American Liberty Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766 Proof sheet of stamps that were pasted on paper without official watermarks
Restoration of the Catholics Charles Carroll of Carrollton becomes a politician The Tobacco Fees Controversy (1771) erupted between the provincial Maryland government and the Lord Proprietor Daniel Dulaney, who supported the government s position, published a long article summarizing the controversy Led to a letter and pamphlet feud between Dulaney and Carroll Dulaney resorted to an ad hominem attack on Carroll because he was Catholic and thus a lower caste citizen The 1773 Maryland assembly election essentially became a referendum on the controversy Improbably, the Popular Party won which had newly been formed by hitherto non- or marginalized voters Charles Carroll became their spokesman even though he could not be a candidate for the assembly Daniel Dulaney wrote an essay castigating the virtual representation of colonists in Parliament Catholics were wary of public protest and favored essays and boycotts Reaction to punitive acts passed by Parliament in 1774 against Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party overtook interest in the Tobacco Fees Controversy and it died away Daniel Dulaney the Younger (1722 1797)
Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737 1832) by Michael Laty Restoration of the Catholics A meeting of 80 Patriots (Popular Party members) resolved to form a nonimportation association to promote and to enforce ending commerce with Great Britain This meeting led to an election of delegates to a convention that by 1775 had become the de facto provincial government of Maryland Carroll could not be a member because he was Catholic Nevertheless, he was asked to be a non-voting member of the First Continental Congress In November 1775, Maryland passed a bill allowing Catholics to hold public office Carroll was elected as a representative from Anne Arundel Co. to subsequent provincial conventions and was appointed a voting delegate to future Continental Congresses Carroll led the way for the reentry of Catholic gentry into Maryland government By 1777, 40% of Catholic gentry born between 1750-1775 were serving the Maryland government Various factors at home and abroad led them to align themselves with the Revolution
Suppression of the Society of Jesus The Jesuits were a thorn in the side of imperial Catholic powers Under pressure from them, Pope Clement XIV suppressed the society in June, 1773 It affected every American priest and seminarian no matter where he lived It affected every priest in Maryland and Pennsylvania Although devastated, most ex-jesuits continued to serve in their missions John Carroll, Charles Carroll s cousin, returned to Maryland and acted as chaplain for his large family Although nominally under the jurisdiction of the Vicar Apostolic of London, Bishop Richard Challoner, Jesuit suppression left the American church virtually headless Pope Clement XIV (r. 1769 1774)
Quebec Act of 1774 Its intent was to win acceptance of British rule by French Canadians It recognized the Catholic Church as the established religion of Canada Canadian Catholics were allowed to hold office without taking an oath impugning their religion It extended the boundary of Quebec down to the Ohio river Protestant Americans feared it was the first step to make all of North America Canadian to impose popery on everyone to facilitate Canadians allying with Indians against British Americans Anti-popery became an instrument of resistance to British rule, especially in New England Following the actions of many colonial assemblies, the First Continental Congress was formed and it adopted a position opposing the Quebec Act based on principles that were misguided and paranoid Congress also encouraged Canadians to side with them based on the liberty of conscience instilled in them, implying that they would be better off siding with British Americans rather than Britain herself
The Catholic Choice On the eve of the Revolution, would Catholics favor rebellion or loyalty? The Protestant majority had become culturally more Anglican and anti-catholic Social links with Britain had weakened for all Americans; this was even stronger for Catholics who were legal and political outcasts Colonial history gave little hope that Catholics would fare better under home rule Maryland Catholics had the most difficult choice In spite of much contrary evidence, they believed the Revolution would bring equality and freedom They had become alienated from the proprietor They had become alienated from the international Church as a result of the suppression of the Jesuits They were as much against taxation without representation and legislation without the consent of the governed as their Protestant neighbors One could argue that this situation had persisted ever since 1634
The Catholic Choice In the end, most Catholics favored revolution Former Jesuit, English-bred priests took loyalty oaths and encouraged their congregations to do likewise There were Catholics who generally remained loyal to Britain Catholic Scotch Highlanders living in the Mohawk Valley German Catholics in upstate New York tended to be evenly divided German Catholic farmers in Pennsylvania were loyalists Catholics who joined in the revolution Irish Catholics in Pennsylvania Many became decorated officers in the Continental Army and Navy Most Maryland Catholics Catholics growing up after the Seven Years War were no longer closely linked to the Calvert's Imperial policies and proprietary politics of the 1760s and 1770s predisposed them to challenge the crown s authority