Increasing English Control of the Colonies The American Colonies Increasing English Control of the Colonies

Review Why did People choose to come to the new world? Religious Freedom To get rich Political freedom Why did countries want colonies? Cheap raw materials (Mercantilism) To make money New Markets for finished products

1. New England Colonies (MA, NH, CT, RI) Population – English, Scottish Common heritage, very religious Lived in small villages Subsistent farmers (Grew Just enough food for their family and livestock) Major trade centers Major industries: ship building, fishing, whaling, timber (Fishing and Trade)

2. Middle Colonies (NY, PA, NJ, DE) Population – diverse Large spread out farms Economy: Grew cash crops (grains: Breadbasket of the colonies), Manufacturing, Craftsmen/Artisans (manufacturing, farming and trade) Religious tolerance

3. Southern Colonies (VA, NC, SC, GA, MD) Plantation Culture Population – English, Enslaved Africans Self-sufficient plantations Slave labor Grew cash crops: tobacco, rice, indigo (Farming) Small farms in Backcountry (rocky soil not good for plantations) subsistence farmers Population – Scotch-Irish and Germans

Mercantilism Beginning around 1650, the British government pursued a policy of mercantilism in international trade. Mercantilism is an economic theory that states a nation becomes stronger by keeping strict control over its trade. It also states that a nation should have more exports than imports.

Mercantilism To achieve this balance of trade, the English passed laws exclusively benefiting the British economy. These laws created a trade system whereby Americans provided raw goods to Britain. Britain used the raw goods to produce manufactured goods that were sold in European markets and back to the colonies. As suppliers of raw goods only, the colonies could not compete with Britain in manufacturing. English ships and merchants were always favored, excluding other countries from sharing in the British Empire’s wealth.

The Navigation Acts Most famous of laws to enforce mercantilism were the Navigation Laws (1650) Restricted trade to English vessels (no Dutch). Additional laws: Goods bound for colonies had to go to England first for duties. Colonists also not allowed to manufacture certain products to not compete with British.

3. An Emerging Nation It was difficult for Great Britain to enforce these laws because of the distance. Colonists broke the law and smuggled and traded with other countries. Most important, mercantilism was insulting: colonies felt they were being milked like cows, kept in economic adolescence. British failed to see an emerging nation.

Salutary Neglect Great Britain made money from the colonies, but they did not strictly enforce the Navigation Acts and allowed smuggling to continue. Salutary Neglect was the British hands-off policy which allowed the colonies to develop their own political, social and economic systems. Salutary Neglect lasted until 1763 when Great Britain tried to crack down on the colonies after the French and Indian War.

Religion in the Colonies Puritans, Pilgrims, Quakers, Catholics, and others came to the New World for religious freedom. Puritan New England very religious --Salem Witch Trials By the early 1700s, the Puritan church had lost influence. The 1691 Massachusetts charter forced Puritans to allow freedom of worship and opened up voting beyond Puritan church members. By 1702, all the colonies had some form of state supported religion. In most colonies, religion was separate from the government and toleration became the official policy.

The Great Awakening Some preachers wanted to revive the intensity and dedication of the original Puritan vision. The resulting revival that swept through the colonies in the mid 1700s became known as the Great Awakening. Jonathon Edwards and George Whitefield were two of the most famous preachers during the Great awakening. Preachers had to preach outdoors because they crowds were so great.

Outcomes of the Great Awakening Many people began to abandon their old Puritan or Anglican churches and began joining independent denominations like Baptist or Methodists. Led to an increase in interest for higher education. Princeton, Brown, Columbia, and Dartmouth were started by Protestant Churches. Caused people to question traditional authority, Britain’s authority in their lives Created a climate in the colonies which made the American Revolution possible.