Topic: How did economic factors Topic: How did economic factors contribute to Colonial Discontent contribute to Colonial Discontent

in the Pre-Revolutionary Era in the Pre-Revolutionary Era (1763-1775)?(1763-1775)?

Underlying Causes of the RevolutionUnderlying Causes of the Revolution

Physical distance Physical distance No class distinctions in No class distinctions in

America America colonists colonists different from England different from England

Population differences Population differences (size, ethnicities, etc)(size, ethnicities, etc)

Culture, economics, Culture, economics, religion and 7 Years War religion and 7 Years War created a concept of created a concept of “Americans”“Americans”

Problems with Problems with MercantilismMercantilism

British MercantilismBritish Mercantilism

Competition to be the Competition to be the richest country in richest country in EuropeEurope

Role of goldRole of gold Exports must be Exports must be

greater than importsgreater than imports Colonies to be a Colonies to be a

market for mother market for mother countrycountry

Colonies as source for Colonies as source for raw materialsraw materials

The Navigation Acts (1650)The Navigation Acts (1650) Codified MercantilismCodified Mercantilism

– Weakly enforced originally Weakly enforced originally (Salutary Neglect)(Salutary Neglect)

Restricted trade to English Restricted trade to English ships only ships only

Enumerated productsEnumerated products Restrictions on what Restrictions on what

colonials could manufacturecolonials could manufacture Gold and sliver drained from Gold and sliver drained from

colonistscolonists– Printing paper money Printing paper money

depreciateddepreciated

Colonial laws could be Colonial laws could be voided by Privy Council voided by Privy Council

Benefits and Drawbacks of Benefits and Drawbacks of Mercantilism for the colonistsMercantilism for the colonists BenefitsBenefits

Salutary Neglect for over 100 Salutary Neglect for over 100 yearsyears

Until 1763, smuggling Until 1763, smuggling “permitted”“permitted”

Tobacco planters had a Tobacco planters had a monopoly in Britainmonopoly in Britain

Colonial self-government Colonial self-government allowedallowed

Protection by British Army Protection by British Army and Navyand Navy

DrawbacksDrawbacks Americans couldn’t trade Americans couldn’t trade

freely under favorable freely under favorable conditions (other nations)conditions (other nations)

At the mercy of British At the mercy of British economic cycleseconomic cycles

Tobacco vulnerable to Tobacco vulnerable to low prices (Virginians in low prices (Virginians in constant debt)constant debt)

Enforcement after the Enforcement after the French and Indian WarFrench and Indian War

Increase of colonial Increase of colonial resentmentresentment

ConclusionConclusion

1) What was the goal of the British policy of 1) What was the goal of the British policy of Mercantilism? How was this goal to be Mercantilism? How was this goal to be attained?attained?

2) Were the colonists right to be angry about 2) Were the colonists right to be angry about the Navigation Acts? Explain.the Navigation Acts? Explain.