Truxes Defying Empire Summary

In Defying Empire by Thomas M. Truxes, Truxes presents the reader with a compelling narrative while also accurately describing New York trade during the Seven Years’ War. Through this narrative, Truxes gives evidence to the audacity and resourcefulness of these businessmen. Truxes also provides the evidence that the Seven Years’ War spread across the Atlantic and into other countries economies. In this book, Truxes gives evidence to prove that the venturesome business men during the Seven Years’ War impacted the global economy. In Defying Empire, Truxes begins the book by demonstrating the power and determination of the businessmen in New York City during the Seven Years’ War. When Amherst demanded that informants come forward, George Spencer stepped forward into the spotlight. Although Truxes describes Spencer as “calculating, tenacious and desperate”, he is no match compared to the alliance of merchants in New York City (11). These merchants had connections throughout the government including Governor DeLancey, “the …show more content…
While some merchants exploited their connections and the corruption in the government, these tenacious businessmen always had a plan up their sleeves. Monte Cristi, “the principal venue for New York City’s wartime trade with the French”, showed the innovation of the merchants (86). These merchants utilized the technically “neutral” island to legalize the trade of provisions with the French. Merchants also utilized the cover of flag trucing,a supposedly legal way of trading with the enemy. Truxes explains the frenzy caused by flag-trucing in Philadelphia, “Flag-trucing was so brisk in Philadelphia in autumn of 1759 that merchants bid against one another for prisoners to carry to Saint-Domingue”(94). This daring exploitation of neutral islands and laws demonstrates the merchants disregard towards the repercussions of their