Slavery Mercantilism Navigation Acts

Mercantilism Main economic theory of the time National self-sufficiency by amassing gold & silver

Mercantilism Strategy: Colonies – raw materials Mother country – manufactured goods Mother country sells internationally

Mercantilism Balance of trade Exports > imports? If yes, gold reserves 

Triangular Trade

Roots of African Slavery Jamestown – 1619 Slave coast trading – Dutch –Involvement of Africans

Roots of African Slavery Justifications: –Bible –Economics –Social

Middle Passage Newly enslaved Africans’ trip from African continent to Americas Treated like cargo Branded, packed tightly Most died on trip

Layout of a slave ship

Artist’s idea of inside of a slave ship

Slaves arrive in Americas “Fattening up” for auction Auction prices –“Bucks” / women / children

Origins & Destinations of African Slaves,

Servitude to Slavery VA – originally treated as indentured servants  black pop in VA (1672) = stricter laws –Slaves for life; permanent slave status passed on to children thru mother skin color –By 1700 – slavery based on skin color

Slavery in American South Higher price of indentured servants increased demand for slaves Number of African slaves in South: 1690 – 13, – 200,000

Slaves in American South 80-90% were field workers Plantations – oversaw by field bosses Small farms – often worked beside owners Some trained as artisans & rented out

Slaves in American South Treatment Murder of slaves = legal if owner called it “punishment”

Resistance Passive resistance Breaking tools Faking illness Work slowdowns Active resistance Ran away – Maroons Stono Rebellion (SC)

Regional Differences  slaves in South/Chesapeake Easier to maintain African culture By 1720 –population self sustaining

Back to Mercantilism

Mercantilism Colonists commonly did business w/foreign countries  profits for colonists  profits for England

Navigation Acts— rules for colonies: –Only transport goods in English ships –All goods pass through an English port –“Enumerated” goods only sold to England Tobacco, sugar, rice

Benefits of Navigation Acts Some colonial businessmen profited Shipbuilders Tobacco  English addiction Strong military protection  intercolonial trade

Costs of Navigation Acts Banned colonial manufacture of some finished goods Monopsony for enumerated goods –  colonial profits English monopoly for finished goods –  colonial prices

Reaction to Navigation Acts MA merchants defied rules Puritans vs. king Unnecessary resentment between England & colonies

Salutary neglect Colonial inattention from England Concentrated on rivalry w/France Colonies self-rule if profit for Britain

Reaction to Navigation Acts 1684—King Charles II cracked down Revoked Massachusetts’ charter Reverted to royal colony

Dominion of New England All New England set up as one colony Sir Edmund Andros named governor Universally hated

Glorious Revolution King James ousted by William & Mary Colonists arrested Andros Parliament revoked Dominion of New England / restored individual colonies

Restoration of Massachusetts Massachusetts chartered again King selects governor Must have religious freedom Non-puritans must have representation