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Difficulty: Very hardMiddle Colonies

"Whereas we have been long oppressed by a wicked government, and having received the news of the crown of England being placed upon the heads of their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Orange... we have thought fit to secure the Fort of New York for the said Prince and Princess, to preserve the Protestant religion and the peace of this country, against any attempts of the late government's tools or the French..."
— Declaration of the Householders, Merchants, and Mariners, New York, June 1689

The developments described in the excerpt most directly reflect which of the following features of the Middle Colonies during the late seventeenth century?

  1. A
    The unified protest of colonial merchants against British mercantilist restrictions on transatlantic shipping.
  2. The persistence of political instability and ethnic factionalism following the transition from Dutch to English rule.Answer
  3. C
    The dominance of a religiously homogeneous population that governed through local town meetings.
  4. D
    The rising social tension between plantation owners and laborers over the transition to hereditary chattel slavery.

Answer

The persistence of political instability and ethnic factionalism following the transition from Dutch to English rule.
The correct answer is correct because Leisler's Rebellion (1689) in New York directly reflects the deep-seated ethnic and class tensions between the Dutch majority (who backed Leisler) and the newly dominant English authorities and merchant elites following the 1664 transition from Dutch to English rule. The rebellion was triggered by the news of the Glorious Revolution in England, which allowed these local political and ethnic factions to contest power.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the primary source text and context.
The excerpt is from New York in 1689, referencing the seizure of the fort in the wake of the Glorious Revolution (the accession of William and Mary).
Establishing the historical setting is necessary to identify the local conflict (Leisler's Rebellion).
2
Identify the regional dynamics of the Middle Colonies, specifically New York.
New York transitioned from Dutch New Netherland to English rule in 1664, leaving a legacy of ethnic diversity and tension between the Dutch-majority population and the new English administration.
Understanding the unique demographic and political heritage of the Middle Colonies explains the underlying causes of the rebellion.
3
Analyze the causes of Leisler's Rebellion.
The rebellion was led by Jacob Leisler, supported by Dutch residents and middle-class artisans, against the wealthy Anglo-Dutch merchant elite who had dominated the proprietary government.
This links the primary source directly to the social and political factionalism of the region.
4
Evaluate the choices to find the one that accurately describes these Middle Colony characteristics.
The option regarding political instability and ethnic factionalism following the transition from Dutch to English rule is the correct answer.
It accurately characterizes the historical context without conflating it with other regions or economic systems.

Key Concept

Political instability and ethnic diversity in the Middle Colonies following the English takeover of New Netherland.
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Middle Colonies

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