Mercantilism
What was the main goal of mercantilism?
To increase a nation’s wealth by maximizing exports and minimizing imports.
What three continents were involved in the triangular trade?
Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
What was the economy of New England based on?
Fishing, shipbuilding, trade, and small farms.
What crops grew well in the Southern Colonies?
Tobacco, rice, and indigo.
Which war involved the Wampanoag?
King Philip’s War
What role did colonies play in the mercantile system?
They provided raw materials and served as markets for finished goods.
What was the Middle Passage?
The horrific journey enslaved Africans endured to the Americas.
What made Southern colonies ideal for plantations?
Warm climate and fertile soil.
What was the geography of New England like?
Rocky soil, short growing seasons, natural harbors.
What was the Powhatan Confederacy?
A group of Native tribes in Virginia that traded and fought with colonists.
Why were colonies forbidden from manufacturing goods?
To prevent competition with the mother country's industries.
What types of goods went from Europe to Africa?
Textiles, guns, and tools.
Which region grew the most grains?
The Mid-Atlantic colonies.
How did geography shape the Mid-Atlantic economy?
Fertile soil and rivers enabled farming and trade.
How did trade affect Native-colonist relations?
It led to both alliances and conflicts.
What is a tariff?
A tax on imports or exports.
What went from the Americas to Europe?
Raw materials like sugar, tobacco, and cotton.
Why did Puritans come to New England?
For religious freedom.
Why did harbors matter in colonial growth?
They allowed trade and development of port cities.
Which colony had relatively peaceful relations with Natives?
Pennsylvania.
How did mercantilism contribute to colonial rebellion?
Colonists resented economic restrictions and lack of autonomy.
What human impact did this trade system have?
It caused immense suffering, particularly for enslaved Africans.
Compare labor in New England and the South.
New England used family labor and small farms; the South used enslaved Africans and indentured servants.
How did natural resources shape colonial jobs?
They influenced farming, shipbuilding, and trade.
How did colonist expansion impact Native groups?
It displaced tribes and led to conflicts.