The Economics of the Colonies: Mercantilism

and Slavery

Colonial America

Mercantilism

This is the economic philosophy England followed during the 17th and 18th centuries.

In general, mercantilism means that a country has more gold coming into a country than is leaving. You sell (exports) more than you buy (imports).

Trade England encouraged settlement in the American

colonies to provide England more markets to sell their goods in.

England placed strict trade laws on the colonies to ensure that the mother country, not the colony itself, would always be the beneficiary therefore keeping the balance of trade favorable.

Generally, the colonies had to buy all manufactured goods from England and sell England all their raw materials.

Salutary Neglect- It will not be until 1763 that England will try to enforce these laws. The colonies benefited from this neglect.

Triangular Trade

The colonists evaded many of the navigation laws and partook in the triangular trade.

The triangular trade is how the colonists purchased their slaves.

The trade involved the colonies, Africa, and the West Indies’ sugar islands

Slavery Origins in America

The first Africans arrived to Virginia in 1619 as indentured servants.

It was not until 1700 that slaves became the majority of the southern labor force.

The Middle Passage

This was the leg from Africa to the West Indies.

Millions died due to lack of water, air, and sickness.

Slave Laws

It was not until the slave population grew large that colonies, especially the southern colonies, began to develop harsh slave codes/laws.

By the eighteenth-century in America, it was clear that slavery was racial – slave=black.

North vs. South

North Labor in the North

was relatively easier as far as physical exertion

Mostly domestic, not agricultural labor

Slaves had little access to their African culture

South Labor was physical

and arduous Often lived in large

kin groups were they could maintain much of their African culture and develop families

Slave Resistance

Slaves did resist, but not overtly, except on a few occasions.

Understanding violence would be met with violence or death, they dragged their feet, feigned sickness, or pretended they did not know how to do a task correctly.