England and it’s Colonies

Prosperous Mercantilism = country’s ultimate goal is self-sufficiency Looked for favorable balance of trade Importing more gold then exporting Americas looked at as market for British, land with natural resources, and producer of other goods

Navigation Acts England is disappointed with amount of American products going else where Opportunity to increase wealth Seen as economic threat to England English Parliament passes Navigation Acts Increase in jobs in England Increase in shipbuilding in the colonies

Tensions Many colonists resented the Navigation Acts Began to trade illegally (black market) King Charles punishes merchants and Massachusetts in belief they were the biggest resisters Puritan leaders expressed opposition to royal authority Revoke colonies charter and under strict Royal control

Dominion of New England King James II succeeds Charles Placed single ruler in charge of Northern colonies Maine to New Jersey = Dominion of New England Sir Edmund Andros – ruler of the Dominion of N.E. “You have no more privileges left you, than not to be sold for slaves” Questioned the Puritan religion Strict punishment for not following Navigation Acts Had local assemblies and levied taxes without input from local leaders

Glorious Revolution King James = less popular in England Didn’t grasp how much England valued their Protestantism and Parliamentary rights Parliament invites William and Mary (James’ Protestant daughter) from Holland James flees the country Promised William and Mary the throne Glorious Revolution = series of laws establishing Parliamentary power over the monarch

Colonists arrest Andros Massachusetts charter reinstated Governor elected by King of England More religious toleration and non-Puritan representation in the colonial assembly

England “Chills Out” England turns attention towards France Competing over control of Europe Saw little need to use lots of troops to regulate economy as long as colonists performing their tasks After Glorious Revolution England strengthens the Navigation Acts Smuggling trials now run by English judges Board of Trade = regulated colonial trade Establish Salutary Neglect = loosen tight control in return for economic loyalty

In every colony a governor appointed by King was highest power Watched over an advisory council and local assemblies Had power to call and disband assemblies Appointed and dismissed judges Watched over all aspects of colonial trade Colonial assembly paid governor not the King Salutary Neglect is still working – many colonists still pledge allegiance to the King Also colonists did not have much in common (North vs. South)

Nehemiah Grew Speaks “The time may come… when the colonies may become populous and with the increase of arts and sciences strong and politic, forgetting their relation to the mother countries, will then confederate and consider nothing further than the means to support their ambition of standing of their [own] legs.”