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