Colonial Economic Policies and Mercantilism

Study Notes

Rise of a Commercial Empire

The English government ignored colonial matters until the 1650s, a period known as salutary neglect.
Charles II initiated colonial intervention in 1660 to increase exports and decrease imports, leading to early taxation.

Response to Economic Competition

England adopted mercantilism, aiming for greater wealth and a favorable trade balance.
Aimed at eliminating Dutch competition and strengthening the navy.
Economic policies included the Navigation Acts of 1660 and 1663, restricting colonial trade.

Only ships made in England could trade with the colonies.
"Enumerated goods" such as tobacco could only be shipped to English ports.

Required goods shipped to English colonies to pass through England first, raising prices for colonial consumers.

Implementing the Acts

New England merchants found loopholes to evade taxes, prompting the establishment of a Board of Trade in 1696 and maritime courts.
Eventually, the Navigation Acts ended up benefiting colonial merchants and reduced smuggling.

American Colonial Culture: Native Americans

By the 18th century, Native Americans became dependent on trade with European colonists for goods like clothes and weapons.
The French had superior relations with Native tribes, while the introduction of horses by the Spanish transformed Plains Indian culture.

American Colonial Culture: New France

Control of New Orleans allowed France to dominate the crucial Mississippi trade route.

Growth and Diversity in British America

By 1770, English colonies had diverged significantly from Spanish and French territories.
A population boom (1,000% increase) fueled by high birth rates, lower death rates, and a surge of non-English immigration.

18th Century Immigrants

The 1790 census revealed that less than half of American colonists were of English descent.
African slaves represented the largest group of immigrants.
The Transportation Act of 1718 led to approximately 50,000 convicts being sent to the colonies.

Scotch-Irish and Germans

Scotch-Irish was the largest European immigrant group, serving as a frontier buffer between Indians and Pennsylvania.
Germans, the second-largest group, were industrious farmers who retained their cultural traditions.
Together, Scotch-Irish and Germans formed a significant part of the American backcountry.

18th Century American Commerce: Economic Transformation

In the 1700s, English colonial economies flourished while Spanish and French economies stagnated.
Higher living standards and prosperity in colonies linked to mercantilism fostering demand for American goods like tobacco and sugar.

18th Century American Commerce: Birth of a Consumer Society

The availability of inexpensive English goods spurred a rise in colonial consumerism.
The Great Wagon Road facilitated increased inter-colonial commerce and consumer awareness.

English Control over America

England maintained a distinct political and economic relationship with its American colonies, characterized by mercantilism and salutary neglect.

American Urban Life

Only a small percentage of colonists lived in cities, with major ones including Boston, Newport, New York, Philadelphia, and Charles Town.
Cities primarily served trade purposes but began attracting colonists seeking new opportunities.

18th Century Politics

English colonies were decentralized, with royal governors (except in Rhode Island and Connecticut) overseeing administration while colonial assemblies handled local finances.
Power largely resided with wealthy elite, as colonies were not fully democratic.

Governing the American Colonies

Royal governors, often seen as incompetent, acted under directives from England.
A council advised governors but lacked representation for local gentry; assemblies operated autonomously and reflected colonists' interests.

Colonial Assemblies

Membership in colonial assemblies focused on protecting colonial liberties and responding to constituent needs.
Assemblies held power over taxation and revenue generation, often enjoying greater popular support than royal governors.

The Great Awakening: Decline in Religious Devotion

The 1700s marked a decline in religious participation, particularly in New England, leading to a rise in Arminianism and the Half-Way Covenant to boost church membership.

The Great Awakening

A series of Protestant revivals, the Great Awakening featured dynamic preaching that led to widespread religious conversions.
Non-unified movement that manifested across various denominations and regions at different times.

Johnathan Edwards

The Great Awakening's early momentum originated with Johnathan Edwards in Northampton, MA, advocating intense spiritual engagement through compelling sermons like "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."

George Whitefield

George Whitefield emerged as a prominent figure in the Great Awakening, delivering outdoor sermons to thousands across the colonies, challenging established churches with his evangelical approach.

Description

This quiz explores the rise of England's commercial empire and the shift from salutary neglect to interventionist policies in the 1650s and beyond. It covers key legislation, including the Navigation Acts and their impact on colonial trade and economics. Test your knowledge on the strategies employed by England to enhance wealth and trade balance.

Colonial Economic Policies and Mercantilism

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Questions and Answers

What initiated colonial intervention in 1660?

What was the blueprint for England's empire?

What did the Navigation Act of 1660 require regarding trade in the colonies?

What must happen to goods shipped to English colonies according to the Navigation Act of 1663?

Which groups were the largest to immigrate to the American colonies in the 18th century?

What was the economic relationship between England and America in the 18th century based on?

The Great Awakening was a unified movement occurring at the same time across all denominations.

Who began the first stirrings of the Great Awakening?

What was a significant effect of the Great Awakening?

Match the following Acts with their descriptions: