Mercantilism in the New England Colonies
For the fledgling British colonies in the 16th, 17th, and 18th Centuries, mercantilism was a way of securing a new, uncertain economy. The colonies were able to run their trade uninterrupted and had the most powerful navy in the world around for protection. However, as devised, mercantilism more greatly benefited England as it severely limited colonial manufacturing, resulted in high prices for the colonists, and caused a resentment of the British government. Mercantilism was an economic system in which the government controlled both the industry and trade of its country. Its purpose was to build a wealthy and powerful state by limiting imports and encouraging exports. England kept a tight control on the economic affairs of its colonies through the use of tariffs and regulatory laws. These laws created a trade system whereby Americans provided raw goods to Britain, and Britain used the raw goods to produce manufact
It gave the new economy direction and resulted in a growth of the American trading industry. Mercantilism and the triangular trade proved quite profitable for New England tradesmen and ship builders. The relations between England and America continued to falter. In New England especially, many colonists evaded the limitations of the Navigation Acts through smuggling. The triangular trade routes linked the American Colonies, West Indies, Africa, and England. The crack that was formed here in the relationship between the two countries foreshadows what would be the Revolutionary War. These acts prohibited foreign ships from engaging in coastal trade in England and required that all goods imported from the continent of Europe be carried on either an English ship or a ship registered in the country of origin of the goods. (The American Colonies 3)A combination of the poor conditions of the Southern tobacco industry and the restrictions placed on the colonists elicited from them a feeling of resentment toward the mother country. As the suppliers of raw goods only, the colonies could not compete with Britain in manufacturing. The colonists complained about the restrictions on trade. ured goods that were sold in European markets and back in the colonies. However, England's reason for using mercantilism was not to make the colonies prosperous, but to earn wealth for itself. The triangular trade also spurred a rise in the colonies' slave population and increased the merchant population, forming a class of wealthy elites that dominated both trade and politics throughout the colonies. Mercantilism in the colonies had its good and bad points. The British government considered dropping prices and stringent policies as necessary factors in the growth of England.
Common topics in this essay:
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War Mercantilism,
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Africa England,
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Europe British,
England America,
triangular trade,
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