Chapter 16: The Transatlantic Economy, Trade Wars and Colonial Rebellion Flashcards
Stages of European contact with the rest of the world since the Renaissance
- European discovery, exploration, initial conquest and settlement of the New World
- Mercantile Empires – Began colonial trade rivalry between Spain, France and Great Britain
- Imperialism – Creation of empires in Asia and Africa
- Decolonization of people previously living under European colonial rule
Factors that allowed European nations to dominate the rest of the world
Technological supremacy related to naval power and gunpowder. Ships and guns allowed Europeans to exercise their will where ever their little hearts desires.
Main rivals during the era of colonization
French and British
Description of Mercantilism
Definition: Close government control of the economy that sought to maximize exports and accumulate as much previous metal as possible to enable the state to defend its economic and political interests. / Heavy government regulation over trade and commerce to increase national wealth.
Operated under the assumption that there was a fixed quantity of resource in the world, therefore growth of countries would be zero-sum.
Purposes of colonies and home country in Mercantilism
Colonies existed to provide markets and natural resources for the industries of the home country. The home country and colonies were to trade exclusively with each other. It was obvious that in this relationship, the colonies were inferior.
Peninsulares
People in the colonies that were born in Spain
Purpose of the Spanish Empire until mid 18th century
Supply Spain (the motherland) with previous metals mined in the New World
Creole
Person of European descent born in the Spanish colonies
Two areas of conflict during mid-18th century among great nations
Overseas empires/colonial territories and central/eastern Europe
Cause and purpose of War of Jenkin’s Ear
1739-1748.
STORY: The West Indies became a place for trade rivalry and illegal smuggling, so the Spanish had coastal patrols to check the English. In 1731, the Spanish cut off Robert Jenkins’ ear as an example. He then preserved it in a pickle jar and presented it to Parliament as a Spanish atrocity. This began a lobby to prevent Spanish intervention of trade. British/Spanish war ensues. The importance of this war was that it acted as an opening encounter to a series of wars fought across the world until 1815.
Facts about the War of Austrian Succession
1740-1748. In December of 1740, Frederick II of Prussia captured Silesia and upset the Pragmatic Sanction that allowed Maria Theresa of Austria to assume the throne. Cardinal Fleury of France allied with Prussia in order to go against Austria. Austria then allied with Britain. Ended with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748 in which case Prussia keeps Silesia and weakens Austria while Britain weakens France by exhausting and diverting their resources and armies away from the colonies.
Alliances and significance of the Diplomatic Revolution of 1756
- French & Indian War is happening.
- George II is the King of England but is from Germany.
- 1756: Convention of Westminster- allies England & Prussia (in German Empire)
- 1756: 1st Treaty of Versailles - allies France & Austria
- Stately Quadrille - power changing of hands
Biggest victors of the Seven Years’ War
Great Britain, because they become a major superpower, but you can count Prussia because they maintain Silesia.
Purpose of the Stamp Act
Put taxes on legal documents and other items such as newspapers. British considered it legal because Parliament approved and fair, because the money would be spent in the colonies.
Characteristics of the Intolerable Acts
Closed the port of Boston, reorganized the government of Massachusetts, allowed for quartering of troops and removed the trials of royal custom officials to England.
