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A.P.E. The Transatlantic Economy, Trade Wars, and Colonial Rebellion (Major Themes). Colonial Empires. During the 16 th and 17 th c., the Western maritime powers est. vast commercial, mercantile empires in N. & S. America.
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A.P.E. The Transatlantic Economy, Trade Wars, and Colonial Rebellion (Major Themes)
Colonial Empires • During the 16th and 17th c., the Western maritime powers est. vast commercial, mercantile empires in N. & S. America. • Purpose extract wealth and est. commercial advantage for the colonial power. • Largest empire = Spain; by 17th c. Britain and France also each est. major American presence • Colonies dependent upon slave labor
Trade Wars • 18th c. a period of wars over colonial empires in Americas and India • Trade wars entangled with dynastic wars in central and eastern Europe (worldwide wars) • Britain, France, and Spain battled for New World and Indian dominance • Britain emerged as major power by third quarter of 1700s (Spain still had large colonial empire, but was weak militarily)
Dynastic Wars • France, Austria, and Prussia fought territorial and dynastic wars in Europe • Britain used the wars in Europe to divert France from colonial ambitions • Britain and Prussia = big winners by 1763 • Austria lost territory to Prussia • France in debt
Results • Wars = need for more money = need for monarchies to govern more efficiently • Need for money = British taxes in N. America = revolution & independence • French helped American colonies = French debt = conflict with nobility = French Revolution • Revolutionary movements in Spanish Americas • Prussia, Austria, Russia = Enlightened Absolutism
A World of Goods • In 18th c. Europe, for the first time, a mass mkt. for consumer goods emerged • Houses larger, more luxuries sugar, tobacco, tea, coffee, chocolate, newspapers, books, pictures, clocks, toys, china, glassware, soap, razors, furniture (including beds w/mattresses, chairs, chests of drawers), shoes, cotton cloth, pewterware, silverware, spare clothing • Exploding consumer economy increased demand for manufactured goods increased prices • Also, growing service sector (fastest growing part of economy in Britain) golden age of small shopkeepers • Many new consumer goods came from Europe’s empires in Asia, Africa, Americas
Colonialism: Spain • Mercantilist only Spanish merchants allowed to trade w/Spanish colonies and all exports and imports had to go through a Spanish port • Sm. Spanish pop. Of administrators and churchmen governing a large Indian pop. • Did not attempt to uproot or eliminate existing native pop. controlled and exploited for labor • Widespread cultural assimilation • High degree of intermarriage racial and social “caste” system
Colonialism: France • Colonial system matured during Louis XIV and Colbert • Sugar producing West Indies most profitable colonies • Furs, fish, tobacco in North America • Direct crown enterprises • Intermarriage between fur traders and Indian women common • Colonies dependent on crown for wages and supplies; rarely self-sufficient
Colonialism: Dutch • Until 1670 the most prosperous commercial empire of 17th c. • “fort and factory” model • Dutch monopoly in Europe over pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, and clover • Trade w/Japan and China • Lost New Amsterdam (New York) in trade war with England • Dominated slave trade in 17th c. until lost control to English • Created joint-stock company and stock exchange
Colonialism: England • American colonies had no mineral wealth agricultural • Many early settlements driven by religious motives • Early settlements private, but later subject to mercantilist laws • Most valuable products tobacco and sugar • Colonies did not start as crown enterprises joint-stock companies and private proprietary colonies • European disease had wiped out native pop. Before English had even arrived • No need or opportunity to control large Indian labor force eliminate through expulsion and massacre • Intermarriage rare • Labor indentured servants and slaves