England and Its Colonies The Americans, Chapter 3.1, pages 66-71.
England and its Colonies Prosper Although many colonists benefited from the trade relationship with the home country, the real purpose of the colonial system was to enrich Britain. ~The Americans, page 66.
Mercantilism Economic theory Finite amount of wealth Country should be self-sufficient Countries in competition to acquire gold & silver Colonies provide economic strength to parent country Source of raw materials Market for finished products Maintain a positive balance of trade Limit imports Maximize exports Colonies only trade with the parent country
The Navigation Acts Colonial Trade Exported lumber, fur, fish, & tobacco Imported furniture, tools, books Reason for Navigation Acts Not all exports going to England England threatened by economic rivals (Spain, France, Holland) Provisions of Navigation Acts No foreign ships used for transport Crews must be 75% English/colonial Certain colonial products only exported to England Goods had to pass through an English port
Tensions Emerge The Navigation Acts, however, did not sit well with everyone. A number of colonial merchants resented the trade restrictions, and many continued to smuggle, or trade illegally, goods to and from other countries. For years England did little to stop these violations. Finally, in 1684, King Charles II acted, punishing those colonists whom he believed most resisted English authority: the leaders and merchants of Massachusetts. ~The Americans, page 68.
Crackdown in Massachusetts Colonial Actions Puritan leaders hostile to English Authority Believe their charter relieves them of responsibility to obey Parliament Disregard Navigation Acts English Reactions Charles II revokes charter in 1684 Colony placed under direct control of the Crown
The Dominion of New England James II (r. 1685-88) Aggravates tensions Maine-New jersey become the Dominion of New England Sir Edmund Andros English aristocrat & military governor Takes hard-line approach Restricts assemblies Levies taxes Prosecutes smugglers Colonial Reaction Appeal to parliament to get Andros recalled & charter restored
James II The Glorious Revolution 1688 Roman Catholic Has a son in 1688 Parliamentary Revolution Fear a Roman Catholic Dynasty Invite William & Mary to become rulers (pictured) Establish a Constitutional Monarchy Restore colonial charters 1691 King appoints governor of Massachusetts Require Puritans to tolerate other religious groups Colonial Reactions Arrest Andros
England Loosens the Reins After 1688, England largely turned its attention away from the colonies and toward France, which was competing with England for control of Europe. The home country still expected the colonies to perform their duties of exporting raw materials and importing manufactured goods. As long as they did this, parliament saw little reason to devote large amounts of money and large numbers of soldiers to aggressively enforcing its colonial laws. ~The Americans, page 70.
Navigation Acts Strengthened Smugglers tried in Admiralty courts More likely to find guilty Stricter punishments Board of Trade established Broad powers to oversee colonial trade Appearance vs. Reality Laws lightly enforced England relaxed most regulations Colonies continued with economic loyalty to England Raw materials continued to flow to England Most manufactured goods bought from England Salutary Neglect
The Seeds of Self-Government Political structure Royal Governor appointed by King Governor s advisory council Locally elected assembly Governor s powers Call & disband assembly Dismiss judges Oversee all aspects of trade Colonial balances Assembly paid governor s salary Colonists still considered themselves British subjects Only wanted more economic freedom Individual colonies had little in common