The student will trace the ways that the economy and society of British North America developed.

 A. Explain the development of mercantilism and the trans-Atlantic trade.

Mercantilism  British colonies influenced by mercantilism (economic theory ) Held that Earth had a limited supply of wealth in the form of natural resources ○ Especially gold and silver Best way to become a stronger nation was to acquire the most wealth

Mercantilism  World’s wealth thought to be limited The more one country had The less any could ○ A nation became stronger and wealthier ○ Its enemies became poorer and weaker

Mercantilism  British government view American colonies as sources of wealth Would make Britain wealthier and stronger If Britain had more land (colonies) ○ That’s less for other countries

Mercantilism  American goods meant more money from trade That’s less money for other countries ○ Great Britain would get greater ○ Its European rivals would get weaker

Trans-Atlantic Trade  Mercantilism inspired Parliament to control trans-Atlantic trade with its American colonies All goods had to travel in British ships Any goods exported to Europe had to land first in Britain to pay British taxes

Trans-Atlantic Trade  Some goods could only be exported to Britain Designed to keep the colonies from competing against Britain Some Americans responded by becoming smugglers

 B. Describe the Middle Passage, growth of the African population, and African-American culture.

Growth of African Population  Tobacco and other cash-crop farmers prospered Expanded the size of farms  Never enough workers To plant, grow, and harvest Turned to African slaves to do this work

Growth of African Population  Many believed every black person was a savage who needed to be taken care of Virginia Company founded Jamestown in 1607, no African slaves in British North America By 1700 there were thousands ○ Majority were located in the Southern colonies

Triangular Trade  Three-way voyage made by the slave ships Ships loaded with rum, cloth, and other English goods sailed to Africa ○ Here they were traded for Africans originally enslaved by other Africans

Middle Passage  The slaves would be transported to the New World Repeated for decades  It’s said you could smell them before you could see them

Middle Passage  The slaves were packed like bundles of firewood  About two of every ten slaves died during the passage

Triangular Trade  The crew would buy tobacco and other American goods from profits they made by selling the slaves in the colonies Then ship the tobacco and goods back to Britain

African American Culture  Slaves attempted to make the best of under the worst of circumstances Rich with music, dance, basket-weaving, and pottery-making ○ They brought with them the arts and crafts skills of their various tribes  There could be a hundred slaves working on one farm and all from different tribes

 C. Identify Benjamin Franklin as a symbol of social mobility and individualism.

Benjamin Franklin  Benjamin Franklin is one of the best known of America’s Founding Fathers  Born into a poor Boston family in 1706 At 12 he became an apprentice to a printer (brother) At 17 he ran away to Philadelphia to start a life of his own choosing Later he sailed to London to gain more experience in the printing business

Benjamin Franklin  Returned to Philadelphia in 1726 as an experienced printer, writer, and businessman  Over his 84-year life, Franklin succeeded in making himself one of the world ’s leading authors, philosophers, scientists, inventors, and politicians

 D. Explain the significance of the Great Awakening.

The Great Awakening  Worship styles in the northeastern colonies changed during the mid 18 th  Ministers said the people would feel God’s love only if they admitted their sins Told that each believer should seek his or her own personal and emotional relationship with God ○ More important that just meeting together (Puritans)

The Great Awakening  Sermons attracted enormous audiences  Often traveled from colony to colony  Christianity grew Although established churches lost members

The Great Awakening  Some preachers said American society had become as corrupt as the English society the colonists’ ancestors had escaped As a result, some people started saying that America needed to cut its ties with Britain to keep its religion pure