Mercantilist Policy in the British Colonies

Why Colonies The possession of colonies (so a nation wouldn't have to rely on other nations for raw materials), tariffs, and monopolies was a major object of the nations of 1600’s and 1700’s.

The Navigation Acts Charles II came to the throne in England in 1660 and desired to increase British trade at the expense of its main trading rival, the Dutch. Charles influenced the British Parliament to pass the Navigation Acts of 1660 and 1663.

The Navigation Acts The Navigation Acts (1660 & 1663) forbade: 1. all trade with the colonies except in ships owned and constructed in America or England 2. the transportation from the colonies to any place except England or another English colony of enumerated commodities (sugar, cotton, indigo, dyewoods, ginger, and tobacco) 3. the transportation of European and Asiatic goods to the colonies from any place except England

Resistance Resistance to the Navigation Acts came from both the Dutch and the American colonies. In New England, many wanted to be able to continue to trade with the Dutch, who offered them better prices for their goods than the British did. Edmund Randolph, the chief British customs official in Massachusetts Bay, noted that colonial officials welcomed non-British traders, and he called upon the British government to "reduce Massachusetts to obedience."

Massachusetts Violates Navigation Laws In 1684, a British court ruled that Massachusetts Bay colony had intentionally violated the Navigation Acts (as well as restricted the Church of England). The charter of the colony was thus declared invalid, and the colony was placed under direct British control.

The Dominion of New England Seeking to make New England governments more obedient, James II created The Dominion of New England, consolidating the northern colonies. He revoked the charters of all the colonies from New Jersey to Maine, which effectively abolished their democratic assemblies. James II then appointed Sir Edmund Andros as governor of this territory and placed immense powers in his hands. Governor Andros’s mission: obedience from these colonies.

The Dominion of New England Ends The New England colonies resented Andros’s harsh and arbitrary rule. In 1688, they saw an opportunity to remove him, the Glorious Revolution in England replaced James II with William of Orange and Mary, who pledged their support to a parliamentary system. Andros then jailed in Massachusetts William and Mary also believed in firm control by Britain over colonial affairs. However, the authoritarian nature of the Dominion of New England ended, as representative political institutions at the local level were restored.

The Colonial Assembly One disturbing development for the British: the rise in the independence of colonial assemblies. Popular opinion did begin to be expressed during New England town meetings and in political discussions throughout the colonies. Some colonial legislators perceived that the "power of the purse" could be a powerful tool against the British in the future.

The Era of Salutary Neglect British politics during the reigns of George I (1714–1727) and George II (1727–1760) helped to foster a desire for more self-government in the American colonies. During this period of "salutary neglect," British policies were most concerned with defending British territory at home and abroad and strengthening British economy and trade.

England Loosens its Grip on the Colonies Strict control of political affairs in the colonies was not a priority in this era As long as the colonies continued to produce the raw materials England needed and continued to buy England’s manufactured goods, they were allowed to govern themselves. As England loosened the reins on the colonies, the colonies responded by tightening their grip on independent government

Mercantilist Policies Continued (At least on the books) The British did impose some policies in this era that increased their economic control : All "finished products" owned by colonists had to be made in Great Britain. Colonists prohibited from producing their own textiles (1699), hats (1732), and iron products (1750). In 1733, Parliament enacted the Molasses Act, tightening British control over colonial trade. The Navigation Acts allowed the colonies to own ships and to transport goods made in the colonies. Colonial ships carried on a lively trade with the French West Indies, importing sugar from there instead of from British colonies producing sugar in the Caribbean.

Individual Assignments (Choose TWO) Create a timeline of important events in the British-American relationship in trade and politics between 1660 and 1763 (Use your phone or computer to check dates) Create a chart showing the pros & cons of mercantilism both for Great Britain and the colonies Explain in a paragraph why you think British merchants might lobby against a governmental policy of “salutary neglect”? Do you think “salutary neglect” was a good or bad British policy? Write a paragraph stating your reasons for this position.