transatlantic economy trade wars and colonial rebellion
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Mercantile Empires
Mercantilism: basic idea is to bring profit (bullion) to the mother nation
Britain, France, Netherlands and Spain were the greatest powers
Britain-North Atlantic seaboard, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland
France-Saint Lawrence, Ohio and Mississippi River valleys
Spanish-all of South America except for Brazil Dutch-South Africa, and Indonesia (Dutch East Indies)
Treaty of Utrecht(1713)
Set the boundaries of European Empires Spain
South America, portions of North America, Caribbean Great Britain
North America, islands in the Caribbean, trade stations in India
France Portion of North America (Canada). Islands in Caribbean,
stations in India and Africa Dutch
Dutch Guiana, trading stations in Southern Africa, India, controlled trade with Java
Goals of Mercantilism
Gain a favorable balance of gold and silver Bullion is the measure of a nations wealth
Growth of one nation is at the expense of another (Zero sum idea) Colonies provide markets and natural resources, Permitted only to trade with mother nations, creating
many flash points.
France vs. Britain
Centers of rivalry North America- fishing rights, fur trade,
and alliances with Native Americans West Indies- Sugar, tobacco, cotton,
indigo, coffee
India
India- trade company competition East India Company vs. Compagnie des
Indes Trading posts in India (factories) Both companies leveraged for control as
several Indian state governments collapsed Joseph Dupleix for France Robert Clive for Britain
Spanish Colonial System
Spanish Crown Royal Viceroys (CEO of colony, carried
out lawsAudiencias ( Judicial Councils)
Corregidores (local officials) controlled city councils
Spanish Trade Regulations
Casa de Contratacion (House of Trade) Controlled all trade with New World, through the port of Cadiz Worked with the Consulado (merchant guild)
Flota (Spanish merchant fleet) Spain to New World with merchandise Loaded with Gold and Silver
Illegal for colonists to trade out of the system or other countries.
Spanish Colonial Reforms
18th century wars replaced Hapsburgs with Bourbons
Philip V Set up patrols to stop smuggling
Charles III
Emphasized royal ministers over councils Council of Indies and Casa diminish Abolished monopolies, allowed other
Spanish cities to trade, and opened up more S. American ports
Added another viceroyalty Started the indendant system in
Spanish empire Similar to the French system
Results of Spanish Reforms
Trade expanded Brought empire into direct Spanish control
Peninsulares – took controlling positions Creoles- felt like 2nd class citizens
Building resentment to Spanish control
African Slavery
Plantation economies, especially West Indies sugar, based on slave labor
Africans imported due to a labor shortage in New World Europeans had no desire to work Native Americans killed by harsh conditions
Major markets on the West Coast of Africa
War of Jenkins Ear
Underlying Reasons Trade rivalry, smuggling, Spanish searching English
vessels Immediate Reason-
Spanish cut off ear of English captain Robert Jenkins, Used as example of Spanish atrocities
British planters lobbied Parliament to stop the Spanish PM Walpole succumbed to pressure. Britain went to
war. Results-
Start of series of European wars
War of Austrian Succession1740-48
Underlying Reasons Frederick II of Prussia seizes Austrian area of
Silesia Broke the Pragmatic Sanctions Prussia treated Hapsburgs as just another
state.
War of Austrian Succession1740-48
Immediate Reasons Debate over Maria Theresa’s right to rule as a
woman Empress Maria Theresa wanted to preserve
Hapsburg power Promised privileges to nobles Recognized Hungary
War of Austrian Succession1740-48
Strategies Southwest Germany, the Low Countries and
Italy- major areas of battle Prussia used a professional army
War of Austrian Succession1740-48
Results France was pulled in by supporting Prussia Great Britain pulled in to keep Low Countries in
Austrian ownership France and Spain vs. Great Britain in New World
Stalemate- Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle Prussia kept Silesia Britain kept slavery privilege with Spanish colonies
Diplomatic Revolution - 1756
Underlying Reasons Struggles in North America Britain and Prussia- Convention of
Westminister Defensive Alliance against France
Austria and France sign an alliance in response.
Seven Years War(1756-1763)
Immediate Reasons Frederick II invaded Saxony
France and Austria allied against Prussia, Sweden, Russia and a variety of German states
Britain gave Prussia financial aid, enters the war against France.
Seven Years War(1756-1763)
Strategies Frederick makes peace with Russia, allows Prussia to
stalemate Austria and France William Pitt (the Elder) provided funds to Prussia, to
distract France in North America France unwilling to put major resources in N.A.
British capture French West Indies Sugar money support war effort
British defeat France in India Leads to eventual conquest of India
Seven Years War(1756-1763)
Results Treaty of Paris –1763
Britain receives Canada, returns French West Indies and parts of India
HRE now relied on Hungary for its power France lost its colonial dominance British become a world power
The American Revolution
British had two problems after Seven Years War Cost of maintaining the empire The management of the new territories gained
from France
Parliament had to find new forms of revenue
Funding Sources
1764 Sugar Act Attempted to collect tax revenue and cut down on
smuggling Stamp Act
Tax on legal documents and other items Money was to be used in the Colonies Colonies protested (Stamp Act Congress, Sons of
Liberty) Declaratory Act
Gave Parliament the power to legislate the colonies
Crisis and Independence
Charles Townshend Chancellor of the Exchequer Helped Parliament pass series of revenue
acts Sent new officials to enforce the new laws
and troops to protect the officials The result- The Boston Masscre
Tea and Intolerable
1773- Tea Act passed Direct import of tea into colonies Lowered tax, but the tax was without colonial
consent.
1774- Intolerable Acts passed Controlled by PM Lord North Series of laws to take control of the colonies
Congresses and the War 1774- 1st Continental Congress in Philadelphia
Advocated self government of colonies April 1775- Fighting breaks out
May 1775- 2nd Continental Congres- Started to conduct the business of the colonies
August 1775- George II declares colonies to be in rebellion
From 1775-1781- Open Fighting between Americans and British troops France and Spain supported the rebellion
American Political Ideas
Took ideas from The English Revolution of 1688 John Locke English Commonwealthmen
John Trenchard Thomas Gordon Both criticized the government patronage of
Walpole – corrupt and undermined liberty
Britain during the Revolution
George III had gone through a series of PM’s in an attempt to gain influence
The case of John Wilkes gave the colonists an anti-monarchy stance Wilkes critical of Lord Bute Arrested and thrown out of Parliament Attempted to return to Parliament but was refused
initially
Parliamentary Reform
Yorkshire Association Movement Demanded moderate changes to elections Organized groups in other areas of England Wanted to reform the entire government
Fell apart due to lack of popular support Did result in less power for the crown Eliminated some patronage
Under the leadership of PM William Pitt the Younger, there was some attempt at reform, but it failed