2. The Economics of the Colonies: Mercantilism and Slavery Colonial America

3. Mercantilism  This is the economic philosophy England followed during the 17 th and 18 th centuries.  In general, mercantilism means that a country has more gold coming into a country than is leaving. You sell (exports) more than you buy (imports).

4. Trade  England encouraged settlement in the American colonies to provide England more markets to sell their goods in.  England placed strict trade laws on the colonies to ensure that the mother country, not the colony itself, would always be the beneficiary therefore keeping the balance of trade favorable.  Generally, the colonies had to buy all manufactured goods from England and sell England all their raw materials.  Salutary Neglect- It will not be until 1763 that England will try to enforce these laws. The colonies benefited from this neglect.

5. Triangular Trade  The colonists evaded many of the navigation laws and partook in the triangular trade.  The triangular trade is how the colonists purchased their slaves.  The trade involved the colonies, Africa, and the West Indies’ sugar islands

6. Slavery Origins in America  The first Africans arrived to Virginia in 1619 as indentured servants.  It was not until 1700 that slaves became the majority of the southern labor force.

7. The Middle Passage  This was the leg from Africa to the West Indies.  Millions died due to lack of water, air, and sickness.

8. Slave Laws  It was not until the slave population grew large that colonies, especially the southern colonies, began to develop harsh slave codes/laws.  By the eighteenth-century in America, it was clear that slavery was racial – slave=black.

9. North vs. South North  Labor in the North was relatively easier as far as physical exertion  Mostly domestic, not agricultural labor  Slaves had little access to their African culture South  Labor was physical and arduous  Often lived in large kin groups were they could maintain much of their African culture and develop families

10. Slave Resistance  Slaves did resist, but not overtly, except on a few occasions.  Understanding violence would be met with violence or death, they dragged their feet, feigned sickness, or pretended they did not know how to do a task correctly.