Unit Two Day Three Teacher’s Edition

The Columbian Exchange exploited the people of the New World in order for European powers to gain wealth and build empires.

Reasons nations wanted colonies Raw Material New Markets God, Glory & Gold

 Columbus launched a history of heavy contact between North America and Europe ◦ Food for thought: It used to take up to six weeks to travel from mainland Europe to North America. Now you can fly from New York to Paris in less the seven hours!

 Columbian Exchange - the transfer of plants, animals and disease between: the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa beginning with the voyages of Columbus  Because of the physical isolation of North America from the Europe, Asia, and African plant life and animals had developed differently in the Americas.

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From America Animals: Guinea Pig, Llama, Turkey Plants: Corn, Beans, Cashews, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Rubber, Strawberries, Tobacco From Europe, Africa and Asia:

From America Animals: Guinea Pig, Llama, Turkey Plants: Corn, Beans, Cashews, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Rubber, Strawberries, Tobacco From Europe, Africa and Asia: Animals: Cattle, Chickens, Donkeys, Goats, Horses, House Cats, Pigs Plants: Bananas, Black Pepper, Coffee, Lettuce, Sugar, Garlic and Onions Diseases: Cholera, Influenza, Malaria, Measles and Small Pox

 Corn was an American crop and overtime it became a center point of many European diets ◦ It became so popular in China it helped their population grow  Imagine Italian food without tomatoes  Think of South American Coffee…it would not exist without the Columbian Exchange

 Native Americans had no natural defense to European diseases ◦ Smallpox, Influenza and Malaria  New diseases were introduced to the Europeans but they were not as deadly 1492: 13 Million Native Americans (Estimated Total Population) 1600: 2 Million Native Americans 1900: 500,000 Native Americans

 Mercantilism  Nations gaining strength based on its individual wealth  Long Term Affects:

#1 – Nations strength depends on its wealth (measured by gold, silver, and other natural resources) #2 – A favorable balance of trade is an important step in gaining wealth #3 – Countries should seek to limit imports and maximize exports #4 – Colonies only exist as a way for the mother country to make a profit #5 – A country’s colonies should not trade with any other country

 Countries would extract as much gold and silver from their colonies as possible  You want to export more goods then you import- this creates a favorable balance of trade ◦ You reduce the amount of imports by charging high tariffs, so imports are to expensive for most people to buy!

 Countries encourage entrepreneurs to start new industries, like spinning cotton instead of wool  Countries had colonies so they could get raw materials (you did not have to buy them from your rivals)

 Colonies could only sell their raw materials and goods to their mother countries  The monarchs controlled trade in the colonies  This control of trade cause European cities to grow and become financial centers

 Capitalisms begins to emerge out of Mercantilism  Capitalism  most economic activities are carried out by private individuals or organizations with the goal of netting a profit

 Controlling natural resources and goods made countries and individuals gain great wealth.  So… Controlling the Columbian Exchange = Lots of Money!!