MERCANTILISM, GLORIOUS REVOLUTION, AND IMPERIAL WARS

p. 62-65

Mercantilism

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 Why?

Navigation Acts

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

raw materials English merchants would then carry them to

the home country They would be re-exported or manufactured

into finished products This led to the Navigation Acts…

Navigation Acts

1651: the act prohibited Dutch merchants from colonial trade

Gave English traders a monopoly Required 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

Use of Force

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

Ended Dutch supremacy in African Slave Trade English merchants expanded fleets and

dominated Atlantic commerce Some, including Puritans in MA, ignored the

laws MA was denied a charter for NH, and gave it

to someone else with a separate governor Puritans were annulled in MA in 1684 for

violating Navigation Acts

Glorious Revolution

1688 Against James II, who revoked many

charters and openly practiced Catholicism Had a child with Catholic wife, causing fear of

Catholic heir to throne Backed by popular protests and army, they

forced James II into exile Gave his protestant daughter Mary the

throne William of Orange was her husband

Why so “Glorious”?

Glorious Revolution

William and Mary accepted a bill of rights Increased personal liberties and

parliamentary powers Leaders of coup used teachings of Locke,

who rejected divine-right theories and focused on individual rights John Locke (1632-1704) What were some of his key ideas on gov’t?

Why do we care???

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 one

Religious freedom was part of deal

Why do we care???

In MD, tobacco prices were very low Small landowners and servants livelihood

were threatened Taxes increasing, fees as well from

Catholics Lord Baltimore was suspended from

power Coode’s Rebellion New charter set up until Church of

England as official church Lord Baltimore IV got charter back in

1715

Why do we care???

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

Jacob Leisler Instituted a representative assembly Supported a merchant-dominated board

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

neglect on the colonies** gave merchants free reign