Mercantilism &
Slavery
Mr. Owens
Essential Questions:
• What impact did British attempts to pursue
mercantilism and strengthen its direct control
over the American colonies have?
• What were the causes and characteristics of
the development and expansion of the African
slave trade in the British colonies?
Mercantilism
• Mercantilism: Dominant European economic system
in 17th Century – self-sufficient kingdoms
• Empires compete through favorable balance of trade
= export manufactured goods, import wealth
(gold/silver)
• Colonies exist to benefit the mother country
• Highly government regulated economy
• “Navigation Acts” (1650-1673)
1. Trade only on English or colonial-built ships
2. All goods imported to colonies must first travel to English
ports
3. Specified goods (tobacco) from colonies could only be
exported to England (eventually includes most goods)
• Effects: NE shipbuilding prospered, military
protection, but limited colonial manufacturing, higher
prices for English imported goods
•
Some goods prohibited to export from colonies: Woolen Act (1699,
Molasses Act of 1733 banned import from French W. Indies
• Colonists resented acts over time
-
led to smuggling of Dutch & Spanish goods, & corruption
MA Bay had charter revoked in 1684 due to rampant
smuggling
Dominion of New England
• James II gained throne in 1685
• Opposed colonial assemblies – wanted
more direct royal control
• 1686 formed Dominion of New England
(1686-1689) from N.E. colonies NY & NJ
under rule of autocratic governor Sir
Edmund Andros – became unpopular
due to taxes, limiting assemblies, and
revoking land titles
• 1688 Glorious Revolution – William &
Mary ousted James, constitutional
monarchy
• 1689 end of Dominion, individual
charters returned
• Navigation Acts remained but weakly
enforced = “Salutary Neglect”
James II
Andros
William & Mary
Rise of Slavery
•
Increased demand for slaves
1. Less migration from England—wages
increasing there
2. Dependable work force—large landowners
disturbed by political demands of small
farmers & indentured servants.
3. Cheap labor—tobacco prices fall, need large
numbers of unskilled workers for rice &
indigo
•
Slave Laws (Slave Codes):
–
1641 MA 1st colony to recognize “chattel
slavery” (ownership of human being as
property) of “lawful” captives or for life
–
1661 – VA children of slaves become slaves
too. Raping a slave wasn’t illegal, but
marrying her was.
–
1664 – MD baptism did not free slaves,
women forbidden from marrying AfricanAmerican men
•
Effect on population:
–
By 1750: 50% of Virginia, 66% of South
Carolina populations are slaves
• Racism & white supremacy becomes widespread
S
The Atlantic Slave Trade
Resistance to Slavery
• Slaves resisted in various ways: most commonly by attempting
to ran away, some by sabotaging tools or refusing to work hard,
some formed maroon communities.
• Stono Rebellion: 1739 in South Carolina – Spanish Florida
promised freedom to fugitive slaves, 20 slaves revolted from
one plantation, Joined by 80 slaves – SC militia battle – 44
slaves and 25 whites killed - Largest slave revolt during the
colonial era
Triangular Trade
• Triangular Trade: New England
merchants gain access to slave trade
in the early 1700s
1. Rum (& guns) brought to Africa,
exchanges for slaves
2. Ships cross the Middle Passage,
slaves trades in the West
Indies.
• Disease, torture,
malnourishment, death for
slaves
3. Sugar brought to New England
•
Other items traded across the
Atlantic, with substantial profits
from slavery making merchants rich
•
By 1713 Jamaica producing more
sugar than Barbados & became
wealthiest & most important colony
in English empire