Mercantilism, Enlightenment, and Great Awakening
Part 1: Mercantilism Video Thought Questions
1. Based on the video, what is mercantilism?
2. Why are colonies important in a mercantilist system?
Part 2: Mercantilism Notes
 ________________________: Idea that a nation must __________________________________________
in the following ways…
o _____________________________________________________
o ______________________________________________________-increasing exports (selling)
and limiting imports (buying)
o ______________________________________________________
 Colonies can provide cheap raw materials
 Colonies can provide a market
 Mercantilism designed to make sure that trade involving America benefitted
_________________________________________________
 Mercantilism causes Britain to pass the _______________________________________________
o 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
o The Navigation Acts were difficult to enforce. Many colonists continued to
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
o Britain ignored smuggling as long as colonists were MOSTLY loyal toBritain…
this was called ____________________________________________________________
Thought Questions:
3. What is mercantilism?
4. How could mercantilism help cause the American Revolution?
5. How could the British policy of “Salutary Neglect” help cause the American Revolution?
Part 3: Enlightenment
Before the Enlightenment
After the Enlightenment
• 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
• One branch of government
has most power (King)
• Applied ________________________________ to solve
difficult questions about politics, society,
science, and religion
• Locke—contract theory of government,
individuals have
“_________________________________” (life, liberty,
property)
• Voltaire—religious ____________________
• Montesquieu—_________________________ of
government
• Rousseau—social contract (democracy, sort of)
 Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin were
was inspired by enlightenment thinkers
Thought Questions:
6. Who were two American thinkers who were influenced by the enlightenment?
7. How democratic are Enlightenment ideas? Explain
8. How could Enlightenment ideas cause the American Revolution?
Part 4: Great Awakening Video
9. What was the Great Awakening?
10. How did it change religion in America?
Part 5: Great Awakening Notes
 Major _________________________________________
 Began in New England
Jonathan Edwards, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
George Whitefield
 More _________________________ than previous religious movements
 Decreased participation in British churches (like _____________________________________
and the _________________________________).
 Increased participation in American ___________________ churches (like Baptist Church)
 Spread throughout the colonies
Thought Question:
11. What was the Great Awakening?
12. How could the Great Awakening lead to the American Revolution?