MERCANTILISM AND THE CHANGING COLONIAL CULTURE

Mercantilism

National power and prestige tied to wealth in Europe Byproduct of imperialism

Creating colonies = Imperialism = Empire

Imperial nations control all commerce of their colonies Commerce = business, trade, etc.

Colonies become necessary for economic growth

Provided cheap labor & resources and bought goods from Europe (mercantilism)

Brought wealth to colonies but also generated opposition because of restricted freedoms

Changing Culture

Mercantilism solidified the creation of an American Aristocracy due to trade with England North businessmen; ship builders South plantation owners

Increased trade meant increased immigration As immigration increased the citizens and

culture became less and less English

Patriarchal Society

Men dominated all aspects of society in most colonies Covertures – All of a woman’s

possessions belonged to her husband No inheritance rights

Patriarchal = Male Matriarchal = Female

Birth of American Dream

Chance at social mobility for colonists Headright System – 50-100 acres of land

for immigrants Indentured servants – Poor Europeans

who volunteered to be a slave for 5-7 years“Apprenticeship” or chance to own land

Most died of disease

By 1700 90% of 100,000 colonists in the Chesapeake were indentured servants

55% of adult males could vote, higher than Europe

Mid-Atlantic Colonies: NY, PA, MD, DE, NJ “Best Poor Man’s Country” Increased Diversity; Irish & Germans after

1720 German “redemptioners” – indentured

servants paid for sea voyage New immigrants lived on the frontier

Violent life, heavy drinking Hated Indians

Bacon’s Rebellion, 1676 (VA)

Poor frontier farms were being attacked, but Gov. did not respond against natives Revealed a growing divide in colonies over

class and if the govt. cared about all citizens or just rich

Young vs. Old, Rich vs. Poor, Coast vs. FrontierRebels sought to destroy all Indians left in VA

Burned the city of Jamestown to the ground

Formed a new House of Burgesses Indentured servants, both black and white

joined the rebellion, which terrified ruling elite

Led to future laws to encourage racial division

Discussion Questions

What is mercantilism? How did it encourage Britain’s fight for political and economic dominance over the New World?

What is the significance of Bacon’s Rebellion? How does it signify a greater problem in the relations of the socioeconomic classes in America?

Compare and contrast the roles of religion and economics in the early history of the New England colonies.

SLAVERY AND THE COLONIES

Labor Shortages

Native Americans got sick easily and able to run away easier

Indentured Servants problematic since they weren’t permanent

Africans - More resilient to European disease, and less likely to run away

1st African slaves in VA 1619 as Indentured ServantsDutch

Slaves majority on sugar plantations in the Caribbean by the 1650sOutnumbered whites 4 to 1 by1713

Carolina

As the Caribbean population swelled and land dwindled many Europeans moved North with their slaves

Georgia and South Carolina economies focused on rice Cash Crop Rice harvesting required slave labor to

be profitable

Slave majority by 1710 Carolina eventually divides over slavery

Triangular Trade

Colonial products sold in Europe Money from Europe used to buy slaves in

Africa Slaves were traded for products in

colonies Middle Passage – Horrendous trip across

the Atlantic for slaves. “Amistad” African slave trade reached its peak

between 1730 and 1775

Life as a Slave

Task system – allowed to work for themselves after finishing their tasks, extra money

Gang system – worked until told otherwise, rule by fear, less freedomGang system became norm as workers produced more

Task system and increased freedom used to bribe slaves into supervisor positions

Stono Rebellion 9-9-1739

Was a Slave rebellion in South Carolina Cato's Conspiracy or Cato's Rebellion

80 slaves rebelled and roughly 45 whites and 45 slaves were killed

In response SC legislature passed

Negro Act of 1740

Restricted slave assembly, education and movement.

Enacted a 10-year moratorium against importing African slavesMany rebel slaves were literate, Catholics from the Congo

Established penalties against slaveholders' harsh treatment of slaves.

Required legislative approval for manumissions, which was previously handled by slaveholdersSetting slaves free

Discussion Questions

How did the economies of the southern colonies differ from those of the northern colonies, in the 1700s?

BUILDING THE ENGLISH EMPIRE

English Control

First Navigation Act, 1651 Balance of trade favored England Rules for English ports

Can only trade with English Ships Navigation Act of 1660

All colonial trade only on English ships Only certain goods could be bought

from certain English companies or coloniesMonopolies

Staple Act of 1663 Regulated goods going to colonies

Plantation Duty Act of 1673 – Trade only with England

Navigation Acts forced the Dutch out and made England the Atlantic power

Building an Empire

Lords of Trade and Plantation1675 Reinforced Navigation Acts and worked

for total control of colonies Crown sought to control governors and

upper legislature housesElected by Colonists

Dominion of New England 1686 - 1689

England sought to combine NY, NH, MA, ME, CT into 1 colony Increase tax revenue and control

Sir Edmond Andros Governor and Francis Nicholson Lieutenant Governor Both very unpopular Failure to pay taxes resulted in loss of

voting rights

Leisler’s Rebellion

NY militiamen rebelled against the Dominion of New England in 1689 at Fort James Lt. Gov. Nicholson Issue of taxes and perceived Catholic

attempts to control NY Militia Captain Jacob Leisler given control

of Fort who agrees to hold until King names new Governor

Leisler turns over fort to new governor in 1691

Leisler put on trial for treason and executed

Leisler becomes martyr to those fearing British control Leisler posthumously pardoned by King

Completion of the Empire

Royal governments became the norm Navigation Act, 1696

English system of vice admiralty courts brought to coloniesNo jury, 1 judge; handled mostly business cases

Judge hired & paid by English King Board of Trade established, 1696 System lasts until and fuels the American

Revolution

Importance of Newspapers

Colonists relied on newspapers to learn about world affairs

Editors tended to support the needs of the colonies over Europe John Peter Zenger criticized New York’s

royal governor William CosbySeditious Libel – Crime for criticizing royal officials

Cosby had Zenger arrested and put on trial

Cosby appointed two royal judges and had Zenger’s lawyers disbarredBenjamin Franklin talked Andrew Hamilton into taking the case

Despite the judges telling the jury to ignore Hamilton’s “lies” the jury found Zenger not guilty

Freedom of Speech

Colonial “Enlightenment”

Newspapers spread Enlightenment values through the colonies Voltaire = Free Speech Thomas Hobbes people give up some

freedoms to govt. to create order Social Contract Theory

John Locke if govt. fails in their duties then the people should form a new one

Democracy

Suffrage was more common in colonies than England

Most colonies, towns had elected assemblies

Clashes among colonial and royal leaders were common Statutes = Laws Duties = Taxes