Mercantilism's Effect On The American Rebellion In 1776

The purpose of mercantilism was to increase power, wealth and self sufficiency for the mother countries. England, Spain and france would often compete with each other to gain colonies in regions such as North America, South America, Asia, and Africa. Raw materials such as lumber, wool, iron, cotton, tobacco, rice, and indigo were what England needed to be able to create manufactured goods. However, mercantilism in the American colonies were more dependent on the manufactured products of England. The Navigation Acts that were a series of laws were enforced by England so that they could make the American colonies more dependent on the manufactured goods of England.The American colonists were expected to buy manufactured goods like cloth, furniture,knives,

Huge debts were owed to Great Britain for supplying the colonists with military support and supplies. To pay the dues, there was the establishment of the Stamp Act, the taxation on domestic goods and services. A tax on domestic merchandise brought even more anger to the colonists. The Sugar Act, the Townshed Duties and the Tea Act were also all introduced with the same fundamentals: applying tax on goods whether it be directly or indirectly, domestic or international. “British commercial regulations imposed a paltry economic burden on Americans, who enjoyed a rapid economic growth and a standard of living higher than their European counterparts” (McGaughy). Each act resulted in irritated colonists. Some even retaliated by tarring and feathering certain English tax enforcers living in the colonies.

     The passing of the Stamp Act by Parliament in 1765 caused a rush of angry protests by the colonists in British America that perhaps "aroused and unified Americans as no previous political event ever had." It levied a tax on legal documents, almanacs, newspapers, and nearly every other form of paper used in the colonies. Adding to this hardship was the need for the tax to be paid in British sterling, not in colonial paper money. Although this duty had been in effect in England for over half a century and was already in effect in several colonies in the 1750?s, it called into question the authority of Parliament over the overseas colonies that had no representation therein.

The colonists as we know came to the New World to start a better life in a new place. However, it was later proven that they wanted to make money in all sorts of things and ways and they also wanted to practice their religion away from anyone else. Therefore, it is clear to say that the colonists came to the New World to make money and practice their own religion.

14. Give a good working definition of the practice of “mercantilism”. Mercantilism is economic theory that trade generates wealth and is stimulated by the accumulation of profitable balances,

Unlike other acts and taxes imposed by the British parliament the Stamp Act effected everyone in the colonies even the colonists who remained loyal to King eventhough, all the colonies were all equally effected by this act imposed by the British. This meant that all legal documents including permits, contracts, newspapers and even playing cards had to carry a tax stamp, the revenue (collected by American customs agents) was supposedly to be used for "defending, protecting and securing" the colonies, but the patriots would have thought differently. They just wanted to be independent from Britian. There was little expectation from Britian and the members of parliament of how intense of a protest that the Stamp Act would generate in America. As mentioned before, the colonists didn’t like to be taxed by Britian any more because they felt living separate from the mother country would only decrease the amount of taxation not

Their were mounting tensions between the Britain and its colonies between 1750 and 1776. This was evidently a result of the Stamp Tax, Townshend Duties, Boston Massacre, and Tea Tax. The majority of these offenses were money based. While the colonist had no objections to taxes, they did not appreciate being forced to pay for things that did not benefit them and was solely created in order to alleviate some of Britain’s enormous debt. The first offensive tax that the settlers had to pay was the Stamp Act. It had an affect on anyone who used paper, primarily those who worked in business and law. They resisted this with public demonstrations, such as assaulting effigies of stamp distributors. Next, came the Townshend Duties. These were a broad

The Stamp Act, which was passed in 1765, had many reactions from the colonists. When the British passed the Stamp Act it taxed everything printed like newspapers, dice, playing cards, legal documents, etc. They all needed a British stamp on it. George Grenville, the prime minister, proposed it because of the debt from the French and Indian War. The colonies were the least taxed of the colonies, but they were enraged because they had no representation. After the British passed the Stamp Act the colonies weren't happy.

The American Revolution is a vital part in U.S history, but what caused it? To begin, Britain, like most countries at the time, were sending men to live and colonized the unexplored Americas. Long story short, after fighting the French-Indian War with Britain, the colonists wanted the British to back off, but the British wanted more control over them after all the money they invested in the colonies. As a result, this tension between the British and colonists would spark the beginning of a revolution. This revolution began at the Battle of Lexington and Concord; Thomas Gage, governor of Massachusetts, sent troops to try to arrest John Hancock and Samuel Adams, who at the time were setting up a provisional government around Gage and were also

Due to Europe following the laws of mercantilism, the Americas were taken advantage of. Mercantilism is how the mother country takes in raw materials, and makes manufactured goods, and tries to keep all money with in the mother country. In Document 5 there is a picture of the triangle trade. In this triangle trade manufactured goods are brought to the Americas from Europe, and lumber oil and spices are brought back to Europe. Europe can easily take advantage of the Americas by buying their raw materials for a cheap price, then hire jobs in the mother country, and in the end the manufactured goods are sold at a very high price to the people in the Americas. Mercantilism is an economic procedure that includes keeping jobs, money, and supplies with in the mother country. Europe took advantage of the Americas by using the laws of mercantilism.

The new taxes greatly angered the colonists. The parliament did not follow the law “Taxation without Representation” which basically states that the colonists have the right to send a representative. The stamp act was a law that required colonists to pay for anything that requires a stamp. This is a great example of why these taxes were unjust because it did not follow the saying “Taxation without representation”. Document 2 says, “Levying money upon us” meaning the tax was imposed on the colonists without representation. The colonies considered these taxes to be unconstitutional which caused riots and boycotting against the government. Document 10 explains the stamp act being unjust, “...The stamp act...a very burdensome and, in our opinion, unconstitutional tax is to be laid upon us.” Another unjust law that was enforced was the Quartering Act. This law forced the colonists to house their homes to soldiers. By that means they would have to feed them and provide their homes for them to sleep. According to

Taxes, such as the Stamp Act, increased prices of everyday goods, such as cards, newspapers, and Dice.(Doc 3) The reason why the taxes were coming so often was because the French and Indian War just happened. ”King George is a Tyrant. He breaks the laws. He is an enemy to his own people.” (Doc 1) These words were famous words from Patrick Henry on how he thought of the taxes were unfair. During this time, the Americans didn’t have representation for taxes. During this time, The British Empire was basically saying to the colonists “Since the French and Indian War was on the soil of Americans, all colonists must pay for the damage.” “I know not of what others may choose but, as for me, give me liberty or give me death,” was another quote from Patrick Henry.(OI) So, even though the colonists were already mad for unjustly taxation, took action into their own hands. Also, the colonists were unhappy because they had no representation. James Otis started up the quote “Taxation without representation is tyranny,” which meant that it wasn’t fair for the British to tax the american colonists without american

Starting in 1500, a new world capitalist system was emerging in Europe. It was a start of a new age, an age of discovery. Spain was looking for the Northwest Passage, a route linking Europe to Asia through North America by sea. Every country was profit and trade driven and along with this new age discovery was a new capitalist system called Mercantilism, which is a system based upon a state to advance national business interests abroad and is increased

In real life, people get greedy. Real greedy; real fast. Britain was no exception and the country fell into an abundance of debt. To pay its debt, Britain put on economic acts towards the colonies. This caused colonists anger and indignation. But, these acts were not the only reason for conflict. The rebellion from the colonist was a mix of multiple problems that eventually piled up too high. The conflict between Great Britain and the American colonies was deeply rooted in economics as well as political controversies and differences.

Mercantilism was an economic system that developed in Europe between the 16th and 18th century during the period of the new monarchies. This economic philosophy is based on the belief that a nation’s wealth depends on accumulated treasure, usually precious metals such as gold and silver, and to increase wealth, government policies should promote exports and discourage imports. Adam Smith, an eighteenth-century Scots professor of moral philosophy who influenced the founding fathers of