The Economic Ties Between
England and its Colonies
Mercantilism
► Definition:
an economic system in which nations
seek to increase their wealth and power by
obtaining large amounts of gold and silver and
by establishing a favorable balance of trade
(more goods sold than bought.)
► England’s
Goal: Become self-sufficient under
Mercantilism
► Colonies
were useful to England:
 provided raw materials
 Market to sell goods
The Problem
► Wealthy
colonial merchants sent some
products to other countries b/c more
profitable for them.
► In
Mercantilism – any products flowing from
colonies to other countries was an
economic threat  not benefiting England.
If you were the English
Government, what would
you do?
Take 5 minutes with a partner to
establish a plan.
England’s Solution:
THE NAVIGATION ACTS
Crackdown on Navigation Act
Violators
► Biggest
Violators were in Massachusetts
 Argued private charter did not require them to
obey the Acts
 England revoked their charter
 Dominion of New England
►Consolidated
land from S. Maine to NJ under one
colony under rule by Sir Edmund Andros.
►Disbanded local assemblies
►Only lasted until Glorious Revolution.
The Glorious Revolution
►
James I  no monarchy  Charles II 
James II, who was Catholic and hated
► Parliament
granted protestants William and
Mary to rule the country with husband
William
► Parliament
established its power over the
crown at this time
How did it Affect the Colonies?
►
Colonists Staged their own bloodless revolution  kicked
out Andros
►
Parliament established new MA charter w/ religious
tolerance and king appointed governor in 1691
►
Salutary Neglect  England relaxed enforcement of colony
regulations
►
Neglect = Governor had little power over the colony
assembly, taste of “self-government.”
1.How does this continue to
establish the Colonial identity?
2.How might this plant Seeds
for Rebellion Later on?