Early Colonial America I. The Importance of Economics- The Navigation Laws World trade competition fierce. English seek to dominate it. The Navigation Laws of 1660 & 1663*… All Trade w/England illegal, EXCEPT on English-built ships & crews of 3/4rds English. 2. The transport of raw materials from colonies to anyplace EXCEPT England illegal. 3. The transport of goods to English colonies illegal, EXCEPT from England. *This is the basis of Mercantilism, a state-controlled trade system to benefit the mother/host country.
The “Triangle Trade”
Wars of 1689-97, 1702-13 & 1744-48 over control of continent & trade Wars of 1689-97, 1702-13 & 1744-48 over control of continent & trade. No real results. Eastern N. America, 1650’s-1763.
1754-63 French-Indian War (Seven Years’ War). The Treaty of Paris (1763).
II. The Age of Enlightenment (1600-1789): The Development of Radical Ideas Johannes Kepler Leo Galileo Scientific advances emphasized “natural laws.” Nikoli Copernicus Sir Isaac Newton
II. The Age of Enlightenment (1600-1789): The Development of Radical Ideas “Divine Right,” Absolute Monarchs… Ruled arbitrarily 2. They decided law, war, life, death 3. They controlled the army & “purse.” 4. They “bestowed” rights 5. Held unchallenged power. 6. Power & titles inherited. Not natural French King Louis XIV, “The Sun King”
II. The Age of Enlightenment (1600-1789): The Development of Radical Ideas Thomas Hobbs Montesquieu John Locke Rousseau Voltaire
II. The Age of Enlightenment (1600-1789): The Development of Radical Ideas Used “natural laws” to study government & man. Enlightened thinkers often believed in Deism. What should the relationship be? God created man with certain, unalienable rights. State served citizens & held power by consent of the governed. Three branch government to control power. Social Contract: Governments had basic obligations towards its citizens.
Enlightenment philosophers also used precedent to base rights Judeo/Christian Laws & Ethics, Ten Commandments Ancient Greece & Rome Magna Carta (1215) Magna Carta (1215) “English Common Law” Enlightenment builds on this. Mayflower Compact (1620)