2.4 - Transatlantic Trade

Triangular Trade

• Mechanics: This system involved a three-part journey: ships from New England carried rum to West Africa, exchanged it for enslaved Africans, who were then traded in the West Indies for sugarcane, which was brought back to New England to be made into rum.

• Economic Impact: This trade was immensely profitable for colonial merchants and was a key component in the mercantile systems of European colonial powers.

• Role of African Elites: African elites played a crucial role in supplying captives for the slave trade, showcasing the complex partnerships that made this system possible.

Mercantilism and Colonial Regulation

• Principles of Mercantilism: European nations, including Britain, adhered to mercantilism, promoting exports over imports and using colonies to supply raw materials and as markets for finished goods.

• Navigation Acts: These acts regulated colonial trade to benefit England by requiring the use of English ships and routing goods through English ports. While boosting some colonial industries like shipbuilding, these acts restricted the economic development of the colonies by limiting their trading partners and manufacturing capabilities.

Effects of Trade Regulations

• Economic Limitations: The acts constrained colonial economies by controlling where colonists could sell their products and what prices they could get, often disadvantaging the colonial producers.

• Smuggling and Resistance: Many colonists resisted these trade restrictions through smuggling and other forms of economic disobedience, which strained relations with England.

Dominion of New England

• Creation and Purpose: Formed by King James II in 1686, this administrative body consolidated several colonies under a single governor to tighten control and enforce trade laws.

• Governance and Unpopularity: Governor Sir Edmund Andros was particularly unpopular due to his authoritarian practices, such as levying taxes without local consent and restricting town meetings.

• Dissolution: The Dominion was dissolved following the Glorious Revolution in England in 1688, which saw James II deposed in favor of William and Mary, reflecting colonists' desires to return to more autonomous forms of governance.

Cultural and Economic Exchanges

• Interactions with Native Americans: Colonists continued trading with Native Americans, leading to significant cultural exchanges, though these were often marked by conflict and exploitation.

• Impact of Enslavement and Trade on Society: The integration of enslaved Africans into the colonial economy had profound social and cultural impacts, including the development of distinct African-American cultures and communities.

Continuation of Mercantilist Policies

• Post-Glorious Revolution: Following the overthrow of James II and the establishment of William and Mary on the throne, England continued to implement mercantilist policies aimed at benefiting the mother country at the expense of the colonies.

• Continued Regulation: Despite ongoing attempts, the English government struggled to fully enforce these policies, leading to a period known as "salutary neglect," where little enforcement or involvement allowed the colonies to do whatever they wanted.