1. Mercantilism, Enlightenment & Great Awaking
Welcome to U.S. History
Mercantilism, Enlightenment & Great Awaking

2. Thought Questions: Mercantilism Videohttp://www. youtube. com/watch
Based on the video, what is mercantilism?
Why are colonies important in a mercantilist system?

3. Efforts to Control Trade: Mercantilism
Mercantilism: Belief that a nation must increase its wealth and power in the following ways…
Stockpile Gold and Silver
“Favorable” balance of trade-increasing exports (selling) and limiting imports (buying)
Create Colonies
Colonies can provide cheap raw materials
Colonies can provide a market
Mercantilist Policies were designed to make sure that trade involving America benefitted England

4. Mercantilism causes Britain to pass the Navigation Acts
Examples of Navigation Acts:
Navigation Acts of 1650—all trade had to be conducted on English (or American) ships
Navigation Acts of 1660—Ship crews had to be ¾ English (or American) certain products (tobacco, sugar, etc) could only be shipped to England
Navigation Acts of 1663—Certain goods that were being shipped to the colonies from other countries had to be shipped to England first
The Navigation Acts were difficult to enforce. Many colonists continued to smuggle goods to other countries.
Britain ignored smuggling as long as colonists were MOSTLY loyal with Britain… this was called Salutary Neglect?

6. Thought Question: Mercantilism
What is mercantilism?
How could mercantilism help cause the American Revolution?
How could the British policy of “Salutary Neglect” help cause the American Revolution?

7. Colonial Culture: Enlightenment
Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin were strongly influence by Enlightenment thinkers.
Before the Enlightenment:
Old Ideas
After the Enlightenment: New Ideas
Applied superstition to solve difficult questions. “It’s god’s will.”
Devine right of the King: the king has the right to rule because god made him King
Religious persecution
Only one branch of government (King)
Applied reason and logic to solve difficult questions about politics, society, science, and religion
Locke—contract theory of government, individuals have “natural rights” (life, liberty, property)
Voltaire—religious toleration
Montesquieu—three branches of government
Rousseau—social contract (democracy, sort of)

8. Thought Questions: Enlightenment
6. Who were two American thinkers who were influenced by the enlightenment?
7. How democratic are Enlightenment ideas?
8. How could Enlightenment ideas cause the American Revolution?

9. Great Awakening: Thought Questions
great-awakening-religious-revival-and-american- independence.html
What was the Great Awakening?
How did it change religion in America?

10. Great Awakening: 1730’s-1740’s
Major religious revival
Began in New England
Jonathan Edwards, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
George Whitefield
More emotional than previous religious movements
Decreased participation in British churches (like Church of England and the Puritan Church).
Increased participation in American evangelical churches (like Baptist Church)
Spread throughout the colonies

11. Thought Questions: Great Awakening
What was the Great Awakening?
How could the Great Awakening lead to the American Revolution?