3. Mercantilism: use of gov’t subsidies and
charters to stimulate English manufacturing
and foreign trade
Beginning in 1650’s, English gov’t began
extending these policies to the American
colonies
Created a generation of political controversy
Why?
4. Regulation of commerce in the colonies:
Colonies would produce agricultural goods and raw
materials
English merchants would then carry them to the
home country
They would be re-exported or manufactured into
finished products
This led to the Navigation Acts…
5. 1651: the act prohibited Dutch merchants from
colonial trade
Gave English traders a monopoly
Required that goods imported into England or
its American settlements be carried on English
owned ships
Later, colonial sugar, tobacco, and indigo could
only be shipped to England.
6. Even further, European exports had to pass
through England before coming to America
Then, they taxed all of the goods coming
through England to raise money
Created a staff of customs officials to collect the
taxes
7. England’s navy drove Dutch out of New
Netherland by force
Ended Dutch supremacy in African Slave Trade
English merchants expanded fleets and dominated
Atlantic commerce
Some, including Puritans in MA, ignored the laws
MA was denied a charter for NH, and gave it to
someone else with a separate governor
Puritans were annulled in MA in 1684 for violating
Navigation Acts
8. 1688
Against James II, who revoked many charters
and openly practiced Catholicism
Had a child with Catholic wife, causing fear of
Catholic heir to throne
Backed by popular protests and army, they
forced James II into exile
Gave his protestant daughter Mary the throne
William of Orange was her husband
Why so “Glorious”?
9. William and Mary accepted a bill of rights
Increased personal liberties and parliamentary
powers
Leaders of coup used teachings of Locke, who
rejected divine-right theories and focused on
individual rights
John Locke (1632-1704)
What were some of his key ideas on gov’t?
10. In America, this led to rebellions in MA, MD,
and NY in 1689
In MA, Puritans seized the governor and
shipped him back to England
MA became a royal colony, not a Puritan one
Religious freedom was part of deal
11. In MD, tobacco prices were very low
Small landowners and servants livelihood were
threatened
Taxes increasing, fees as well from Catholics
Lord Baltimore was suspended from power
Coode’s Rebellion
New charter set up until Church of England as
official church
Lord Baltimore IV got charter back in 1715
12. 1691 in NY: merchants had won support of a
newly appointed royal governor
Jacob Leisler
Instituted a representative assembly
Supported a merchant-dominated board that
lowered artisans wages
**This is part of the beginning of salutary neglect
on the colonies
** gave merchants free reign