Mercantilism and the Navigation Acts

Mercantilism World’s supply of gold and silver fixed Had to seize gold and dominate trade Government controlled economic activities, limiting foreign imports and preserving favorable balance of trade Encouraged manufacturing – developed and protected own shipping to exploit colonies of raw materials and markets for finished goods

Mercantilism As told by Investopedia ercantilism/ ercantilism/

1651 Navigation Act – Oliver Cromwell All goods imported from England or the colonies had to arrive on English ships and the majority of the crew had to be English

1660 Navigation Act - Parliament All ships crews had to be ¾ English, and all products like tobacco, cotton, and sugar were to be shipped from the colonies only to England or other English colonies

1663 Navigation Act All ships carrying goods from Europe to America dock in England, be offloaded, and pay a duty (tax) before proceeding

1673 Navigation Act Every captain loading articles like tobacco, etc. in the colonies had to pay a tax on them

Enforcing Navigation Acts Colonial System: to serve the economic needs of the mother country 1675: Charles II sent officials to colonies Crown named colonial governors

British collectors of custom duties led to resentment Especially by Puritans Massachusetts Bay – ignored royal wishes and tolerated violations of Navigation Acts Smuggling 1684 – Massachusetts Charter annulled

Dominion of New England Under control of special royal commission James II approved proposal to create Dominion of New England that included all colonies south through New Jersey Governor and council would rule without colonial assembly Sir Edmund Andros Colonial Resentment

Edmund Andros

Dominion Levied taxes without consent of General Court Enforced Navigation Acts And then the Glorious Revolution occurred…

Glorious Revolution King James II – Catholic – resented in England 1688 – Parliament invited William and Mary to rule (Mary Protestant Daughter of James) James II fled to France Andros arrested Massachusetts reverted to old government Precedent for revolution against Monarch! John Locke

1688 England focused most of its attention elsewhere Parliament expected colonies to export raw materials and import manufactured goods Strengthened Navigation Acts ◦ Moved smuggling trials from colonial courts to admiralty courts ◦ Created Board of Trade – monitored colonial trade

Salutary Neglect! England loosened hold on colonies English officials only lightly enforced new measures Relaxed enforcement in return for continued economic loyalty from colonies Colonists paid governor’s salary – so governor could be greatly influenced by colonists Taste for self-government Still loyal to British crown