Chapter 4

The Imperial Perspective

Mercantile System & The Navigation Actso Oliver Cromwell & colonial tradeo 1651 – Parliament adopted the Navigation Act

• Required that all goods imported to England or the colonies be carried only on English ships and that the majority of each crew be English.

o World’s gold and silver fixed • One nation could gain wealth only at the expense of another – by seizing its gold and

silver and dominating its trade. Led to the development and protection of shipping. o 1660 – Navigation Act

• Ship’s crews must be ¾ English (not just a majority)• Enumerated (products grown or extracted from the colonies) goods

o 1663 – Navigation Act• All colonial imports from Europe to America stop first in England, be offloaded, and have

duty paid on them before shipping to Americao Results

• England had a monopoly on tobacco and sugar from the Chesapeake and West Indies.• Customs revenues increased• Enriched English shipbuilders• American colonies became more important to England’s economy

Enforcing the Navigation Acts

Enforcement of the Navigations Acts was spotty at best Charles I – bureaucracy of colonial administrators Charles II – Lords of Trade 1670’s – Customs duties appeared in all colonies

o Surveyor General – Edward Randolpho 1678 – Massachusetts legislature declared Navigation

Acts had no legal standing in the colonieso 1684 – Lords of Trade won a court decision the annulled

the charter of Massachusetts

The Dominion of New England

James II succeeded Charles IIo James II approved a proposal to create a Dominion of

New England (all colonies south through New Jersey) Sir Edmund Andros appointed royal governor in 1686 in

Boston. o Rule reached from Massachusetts to Connecticut, Rhode

Island and eventually New York and East & West Jersey. Andros’s presence and leadership led to great resentment

in the colonies. Dominion of New England fell apart with England’s Glorious

Revolution in 1688

The Glorious Revolution in America

James II fled to France and Protestant Mary Stuart & husband William III of Orange invited to assume the throne as joint monarchs.

Colonist’s response to William & Mary’s arrival to the throneo Andros and councilors were arrestedo Massachusetts reverted to its former government

Long term effects of the Glorious Revolution in Americao Bill of Rights & Act of Toleration – 1689o James II overthrow set precedent for revolution against a monarch

An Emerging Colonial System & Salutary Neglect

Refinement of the Navigation Acts under William and Maryo Act to Prevent Frauds and Abuses of 1696 – colonial governors

required to enforce trade laws. Writs of assistanceo Lords Commissioners of Trades and Plantation (Board of Trade) –

investigate enforcement of Navigation Acts Salutary Neglect

o 1696 – 1725 – Board of Trade worked to enforce Navigation Acts and assert royal control. However, deaths and inconsistencies in leadership led to “a wise and salutary neglect” of the colonies.

o Relaxed policies towards the colonies gave them greater freedom to pursue their economic interests and consequently enabled them to pursue greater political independence

Powers of the Governors

Crown never vetoed acts of Parliament after 1707o Colonial governors held absolute veto powers

Crown could disallow colonial legislation on advice of the Board of Tradeo Governor still had power to determine when and where it

would meet, legislative sessions, and dissolve the assembly for new elections/postponement of elections

In short, colonial governors could appoint and remove officials, command the militia and naval forces, and grant pardons.

Powers of the Assemblies

Members of the council were NOT appointed by an outside authority (i.e. crown/proprietor), they were elected officials

Women, children, Native Americans, and African Americans were excluded from the political process – why?

Early 18th century, the colonial assemblies held two important strands of power:o Purse strings – right to vote on taxes and expenditureso Power to initiate legislation

“Self-government became first a habit then a “right.”