1. Understanding Foner Chapter 3: Creating Anglo-America, 1660-1750 http://profcivitella.wordpress.com

2. Main Ideas MERCANTILISM ORIGINS OF SLAVERY CAROLINAS THE COLONIAL ELITE

3. Mercantilism Britain utilizes mercantilism —an economic theory based on government regulating economic activity and exporting more than importing—which helps them become the economic power by the mid-18 th century. Other principles: Promote manufacturing, commerce, and monopolies. Control trade so that more gold/silver flow into the mother country than left it. Role of colonies was to serve the interests of the mother country. Colonies send raw materials to mother country. Mother country sends finished goods to colonies.

4. Mercantilism To maximize profit and protect their economy, Britain passed several Navigation Acts : Certain goods needed to be transported via British ships. Certain items needed to be initially sold in British ports. Goods being imported to colonies needed to go through mother country first. In the beginning, everyone profited immensely: Merchants. Manufacturers. Shipbuilders. Sailors. British government. Colonies.

5. Carolinas Established as a barrier to Spanish expansion (1670). Promised strong legal codes promising slave owners “absolute power and authority” over slaves Promised 150 acres for each member of an arriving family. Would eventually become the richest group of mainland colonists through the cultivation of their staple crop, rice. Lived lavish lifestyles: E.g., imported expensive furniture, fine wine, silk clothing; vacationed in the north; various social events. Viewed liberty as the power to rule and viewed society as a hierarchical structure. Freedom from labor was the mark of a true gentleman. Wealth was very concentrated. Richest 10% of the colony owned 50% of the wealth; the poorest less than 2% (1770).

6. Origins of Slavery Slavery has existed for nearly the entire span of human history. But slavery was never an “institution” like it was in the British colonies. Slavery eventually became an American institution after planters and government authorities were convinced that importing African slaves was the best way to solve their labor issue. The Atlantic slave trade would turn into a very lucrative global business. Nearly 10 million Africans were transported to the Americas. The successful use of slaves as the basis of labor was first seen in the West Indies on sugar plantations in the mid-1600s. Virginia and Maryland eventually adopted this method for their tobacco plantations.

7. Origins of Slavery SlavesIndentured Servants Not protected under English lawProtected under English law Cheaper in the long runMore expensive in the long run Terms of service never expiredTerms of service usually 5-7 years Skin color made it difficult to escape into surrounding society Easier to escape Endless supply of slaves as children were born into slavery Constantly had to purchase servants Custom to intense agriculture laborNot the best workers Strong immune systemsGood immune system

8. Origins of Slavery English had a history of viewing “alien” people with disdain. Irish; Native Americans; Africans Described them as savages, pagans, uncivilized, and compared them to animals. Over the years rules and regulations were adopted to protect the institution of slavery and white supremacy: Slaves could be bought; sold; leased; fought over in court; passed on to one’s descendants; needed pass to leave their plantation; slaves could not own arms or strike a white person. Virginia, and eventually the south, had transformed from a society with slaves to a slave society. Slave population: 1700, 10%  1750, nearly 50%

9. The Colonial Elite As time passed and people benefited from economic growth, an elite group started to emerge in Colonial America that began to dominate politics and society. Virginia’s upper-class was so tight and intermarried that it was said to have been ruled by a “cousinocracy.” The gap wealth gap grew more rapidly in the 18 th century than any other period in American history (Foner). There were no banks in Colonial America, so credit and money were in short supply; you either had it or you didn’t. Most wealth was inherited. Much of the elite thought of themselves as British as opposed to American— Anglicanization —modeling their lives on British etiquette and behavior.

10. Main Ideas  MERCANTILISM Regulated trade + colonial exploitation = $$ Britain  ORIGINS OF SLAVERY South becomes slave society and rules are adopted to protect it  CAROLINAS Rice becomes staple crop creating the richest/most elite colony  THE COLONIAL ELITE Wealth/power gap increases tremendously in the 18 th century