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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
Regulation of commerce in the colonies by: 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 Navigation Act…
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.
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
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
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
Mary and William 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
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
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 New charter set up until Church of England as official church Lord Baltimore IV got charter back in 1715
1691 in NY: merchants had won support of a newly appointed royal governor 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 ** see table 3.3 on p. 75 for info on English Wars