1. Let’s Celebrate! Celebrate Freedom Week 2012: Mercantilism and the Colonies

2. Our First Settlement 1607- Jamestown, Virginia – First permanent English settlement after many failed attempts, such as Roanoke – Established by the Virginia company (entrepreneurs) – Named for King James I – England was in a power race between Spain, Portugal and the French. They all desired land for prestige, wealth and new economic markets

3. Problems With Jamestown The colonists thought the area was great strategic point for defense but soon found out it…. – Was swampy – Isolated – Infested with mosquitoes – Contained undrinkable water – Lack of supplies Could not grow food How do you think all of this affected early settlement for the colonists?

4. Colonies Colony- a territory under the immediate political control of a state. 13 original colonies- Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island Over 90% of colonies were agricultural, with several small cities that were also seaports linking the colonial economy to the larger British Empire.

5. Mercantilism Mercantilism was the basic policy imposed by Britain on its colonies Mercantilism To increase British revenue (money), the colonies were only allowed to buy and sell with the Mother, Country, England. This helped to ensure profit and reduce/erase competition Many Americans turned to smuggling imports Great Britain needed new raw materials, and they ensured that they would have a readily available market

6. Mercantilism continued Physical Factors Control of and access to natural resources and water Transportation routes Shared resources Human Factors Cultural or ethnic conflict Population Political agreements Economic agreements – Trade policies

7. Navigation Acts (Townsend Acts) The English Navigation Acts were a series of laws that restricted the use of foreign shipping for trade between England Irritation with stricter enforcement under the Sugar Act of 1764 became one source of resentment by merchants in the American colonies against Great Britain, helping cause the American Revolution. Sugar ActAmerican Revolution NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION

8. How Geography Influenced, Settled and Shaped our Country Distance- Great Britain and the colonies were a whole ocean away (Atlantic). Communication was difficult and hard to maintain. This distance allowed colonists to develop an independent spirit Environment- Colonists dealt with harsh weather but through adaptations and modifications, the economy flourished. Regional Climate- The south thrived on agriculture and cash crops like cotton and tobacco and the north thrived on industry and manufacturing.