Britain and Its Colonies
What to Remember Today
1. Mercantilism
2. Salutary Neglect
Mercantilism

Definition: A country’s goal of becoming wealthier by having the
most gold and silver



You need to export MORE than you import
How Britain Used its Colonies:

Market - to buy English goods

Producer of goods – make goods that England can sell to others
like tobacco
Trade was a two way street

Beneficial to colonies and to England
Navigation Acts

Laws passed by Parliament (the people who make laws in England)

Laws restricted who colonies could trade with

No country could trade with the colonies unless goods shipped on
English ships

Ships had to be run by English people
Glorious Revolution

In Europe, Christians are fighting  Protestants versus
Catholics

King James of Britain is Catholic


He’s overthrown by new king and queen: William and Mary
Under William and Mary, Parliament (Britain’s Congress)
becomes more powerful so it passes laws that hurt the king

More freedom for the press, religious tolerance
Salutary Neglect

England’s rival was France – they competed for control of
Europe
 England’s
 The

1st priority was to compete with France
colonies were 2nd priority
England required colonies to export raw materials and
import English goods
 As
long as they did this, Parliament didn’t pay a lot of
attention to colonies  salutary neglect
Self Government

Government of Colonies:

King
governor
council
local congress

Governor very powerful – ran entire colony without being controlled by king

So, salutary neglect lead to the beginnings of independence from England