England’s Colonies & Economics

1. Unit 1 #2 1600’s – colonies prosper, serving as a market for British goods & source of raw materials (mercantilism). England’s Colonies & Economics Colonies are prospering by selling goods to other countries. Britain passes Navigation Acts – laws restricting trade.

2. Navigation Acts • No country could trade w/ the colonies unless the goods were shipped in either colonial or English ships • All vessels had to be operated by crews that were at least ¾ English or colonial • The colonies could export certain products only to England • Almost all goods traded btn the colonies & Europe first had to pass through an English port.

3. 1600’s – colonies prosper, serving as a market for British goods & source of raw materials (mercantilism). England’s Colonies & Economics Colonies are prospering by selling goods to other countries. Britain passes Navigation Acts – laws restricting trade. Colonists resent Nav. Acts. Puritan charter is revoked & Sir Edmund Andros is made colonial governor. Andros outraged many colonists. They sent Increase Mather to negotiate w/ King James II. TOO LATE! Glorious Revolution has started in England. Colonists stage their own revolution, arrest Andros. Charter was restored, w/ changes.

4. Glorious Revolution • James II has fathered a son, a very Roman Catholic son! • Facing a Catholic dynasty, Protestants invite William of Orange and his wife Mary to rule. (Mary is James’ protestant daughter). • James II flees England & Wm signs the English Bill of Rights, giving Parliament more power than monarch.

5. Smooth Sailing? OR Rough waters ahead? As long as colonies continued to accumulate gold wealth for England, there was no reason to enforce colonial laws Salutary neglect or beneficial neglect. As long as colonies provided materials, Parliament did not pay much attention. Governor is appointed & holds much power. However, salary paid by colonists & they hold much influence. Systems works because colonists are loyal to England. Plus, colonists are diverse, especially between north & south.

6. Governor’s Powers • Authority to call or disband assembly • Appoint or dismiss judges • Regulation of trade

7. John Peter Zenger “The Zenger Case” • Zenger = New York publisher of New York Weekly Journal • Zenger was arrested for printing a series of articles voicing his opinion of New York colonial governor William Cosby Freedom of Press???

8. The South • Fertile soil made for good farming conditions • Tobacco, indigo, rice& later cotton • Plantations developed instead of towns • Indentured servants supply early labor for colonists • Slavery • African slaves will fill the labor supply • Triangular Trade-brought 1000’s of Africans to the Western Hemisphere • Added to diversity of the colonies • Slaves treated harshly • Some put up resistance • Stono Rebellion • Escape attempts continued • More prominent in south, as plantations grow, so does need for more labor

9. The North • Diverse economy • Farming w/ variety of crops • Ship building • Mining, fishing, lumber mills, etc • Port cities – Boston, New York, Philadelphia • Traded extensively, More urban lifestyle • Diverse society • Germans, Scots, Irish, Scandinavians, Jews, etc • Did not always live in peace • Women • Few legal rights, could not vote • Religion • Fanatics = Salem Witch Trials • Enlightenment ideas hit colonies, questions the radical Puritan beliefs • Ben Franklin – truth through experiments • Effected political thought • Great Awakening = religious revival • Brought many into organized churches • Increased interest in education • New Trends • Great Awakening & Enlightenment led people to question traditional authority • Questioning British authority over colonies