p. 72-76. mercantilism: use of gov’t subsidies and charters to stimulate english manufacturing and...

p. 72-76

Mercantilism, Glorious Revolution, and Imperial

Wars

Mercantilism: use of gov’t subsidies and charters to stimulate English manufacturing and foreign trade

Beginning in 1650’s, English gov’t began extending these policies to the American colonies

Created a generation of political controversy

Mercantilism

Regulation of commerce in the colonies by:Colonies would produce agricultural goods and

raw materialsEnglish merchants would then carry them to

the home countryThey would be re-exported or manufactured

into finished productsThis led to Navigation Act…

Navigation Acts

1651: the act prohibited Dutch merchants from colonial trade

Gave English traders a monopolyRequired that goods imported into England or

its American settlements be carried on English owned ships

Later, colonial sugar, tobacco, and indigo could only be shipped to England.

Navigation Acts

Even further, European exports had to pass through England before coming to America

Then, they taxed all of the goods coming through England to raise money

Created a staff of customs officials to collect the taxes

Navigation Acts

England’s navy drove Dutch out of New Netherland by force

Ended Dutch supremacy in African Slave TradeEnglish merchants expanded fleets and

dominated Atlantic commerceSome, including Puritans in MA, ignored the

lawsMA was denied a charter for NH, and gave it to

someone else with a separate governorPuritans were annulled in MA in 1684 for

violating Navigation Acts

Use of Force

1688Against James II, who revoked many charters

and openly practiced CatholicismHad a child with Catholic wife, causing fear

of Catholic heir to throneBacked by popular protests and army, they

forced James II into exileGave his protestant daughter Mary the

throneWilliam of Orange was her husband

Glorious Revolution

Mary and William accepted a bill of rightsIncreased personal liberties and

parliamentary powersLeaders of coup used teachings of Locke, who

rejected divine-right theories and focused on individual rights

Glorious Revolution

In America, this led to rebellions in MA, MD, and NY in 1689

In MA, Puritans seized the governor and shipped him back to England

MA became a royal colony, not a Puritan oneReligious freedom was part of deal

Why do we care???

In MD, tobacco prices were very lowSmall landowners and servants livelihood

were threatenedTaxes increasing, fees as well from CatholicsLord Baltimore was suspended from powerNew charter set up until Church of England

as official churchLord Baltimore IV got charter back in 1715

Why do we care???

1691 in NY: merchants had won support of a newly appointed royal governor

Instituted a representative assemblySupported a merchant-dominated board that

lowered artisans wages**This is part of the beginning of salutary

neglect on the colonies** gave merchants free reign** see table 3.3 on p. 75 for info on English

Wars

Why do we care???