Colonial Society and Mercantilism

Colonial Elite and Society

• Colonial societies, particularly in the South, had a powerful ruling class that sought to maintain dominance.
• The elite often exploited lower social classes.
• Immigration to the colonies continued to increase.

Mercantilism

• Mercantilism was an economic system prevalent from the 16th to 18th centuries.
• The system measured a nation's wealth through increased exports and trade.
• Its key principle was maximizing a nation's exports and minimizing imports.

Mercantilism and the British Empire

• Mercantilism was the primary economic philosophy of the British Empire in the 18th century.
• The British government actively regulated the economy to boost national power.
• This involved stimulating domestic production via tariffs and monopolies and maintaining a favorable trade balance.

Colonies and Mercantilism

• Colonies were crucial to achieving a favorable trade balance under mercantilism.
• This was because colonies supplied raw materials and purchased manufactured goods.
• Land expansion was a vital component of this system to secure new supplies and support a growing colonial population.

Colonial Rivalry

• Britain's primary 18th-century rival was France.
• France expanded into the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys.
• The French formed alliances with Native American tribes to control the fur and deer skin trade.
• This competition significantly strained relations between the two powers.

Explore the dynamics of colonial elite societies and the mercantilist economic system that shaped the British Empire from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Understand how these elements influenced trade, economic policies, and class structures in the colonies.