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Governance and Economic Policies in Colonial America: From Self-Governance to Mercantilism

This article explores how the colonies in British America developed their own governance systems, focusing on the establishment of local assemblies and town meetings. It highlights their dependence on independent farmers and discusses the economic framework of mercantilism, characterized by high tariffs, monopolization of trade, and restrictions on shipping. Key Enlightenment thinkers such as Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu are invoked to shed light on the philosophical underpinnings of governance during this period. The influence of colonial companies, like the Virginia Company and the Plymouth Company, is also examined.

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Governance and Economic Policies in Colonial America: From Self-Governance to Mercantilism

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  1. Colonial America

  2. How did the colonies govern themselves? • Developed their own systems • Two dozen separate colonies in British America • Largely based on independent farmers

  3. Mercantilism

  4. Mercantilism • High tariffs • Network of overseas colonies • Forbidding trade with other nations • Monopolizing markets with staple ports • Banning export of gold & silver • Forbidding trade to be carried in foreign ships • Export subsidies • Promoting manufacturing with research or direct subsidies • Limiting wages • Maximizing use of domestic resources • Restricting domestic consumption with non-tariff barriers to trade

  5. Age of Enlightenment

  6. Thomas Hobbes

  7. Hobbes on natural state of mankind: • “In such condition, there is no place for industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain: and consequently no culture of the earth; no navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by sea; no commodious building; no instruments of moving, and removing, such things as require much force; no knowledge of the face of the earth; no account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” – “Chapter XIII.: Of the Natural Condition of Mankind as Concerning their Felicity, and Misery.” - Leviathan

  8. John Locke

  9. Voltaire “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”

  10. Montesquieu

  11. Jean-Jacques Rousseau

  12. Virginia Company • London Company • Jamestown • Company of Plymouth • Plymouth • King James I

  13. House of Burgesses

  14. Town Meeting

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