11. His dominion ended suddenly. The English Revolution of 1688 was at
hand. James II. was driven from his throne; the system of arbitrary
rule which he had established fell with a crash, and Andros with the
rest. The news of the accession of William and Mary reached Boston
on the 4th of April, 1689. On the 18th of the month, the citizens of
Boston rose in rebellion. Andros was seized and marched to prison.
The insurrection spread; and before the 10th of May, New England had
regained her liberties.
[Sidenote: =King William's War.=]
12. In 1689 war was declared between France and England. This conflict
is known in American history as KING WILLIAM'S WAR. When James II.
escaped from his kingdom, he took refuge at the court of Louis XIV.
of France. The two monarchs were Catholics, and on this account an
alliance was made between them. Louis agreed to support James in his
effort to recover the English throne. Parliament, meanwhile, had
conferred the crown on King William. Thus the new sovereign was brought
into conflict with the exiled James and his ally, the king of France.
The war which thus originated in Europe soon extended to the French and
English colonies in America.
13. The struggle began on the frontier of New Hampshire in June, 1689.
Later in the same year, the English and the Mohawks entered into an
alliance, but the latter refused to make war upon their countrymen of
Maine. The Dutch settlements of New Netherland made common cause with
the English against the French.
14. New England at length became thoroughly aroused. To provide the
means of war, a congress was convened at New York. Here it was resolved
to attempt the conquest of Canada. At the same time, Massachusetts was
to cooperate by sending a fleet up the St. Lawrence against Quebec.
Thirty-four vessels, carrying two thousand troops, were fitted out, and
the command given to Sir William Phipps. Proceeding first against Port
Royal, he compelled a surrender; the whole of Nova Scotia submitted
without a struggle. The expedition was foolishly delayed until October;
and an Indian carried the news to the governor of Canada. When the
fleet came in sight of the town, the castle was so well garrisoned as
to bid defiance to the English; and it only remained for Phipps to sail
back to Boston. To meet the expenses of this expedition, Massachusetts
issued bills of credit which were made a legal tender. Such was the
origin of PAPER MONEY in America.
15. Meanwhile, the land forces had proceeded from Albany to Lake
Champlain. Here dissensions arose among the commanders, and the
expedition had to be abandoned. The war continued nearly five years
longer, but with only here and there a marked event.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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