The Colonies before the Seven Years War

Question 1

Differences between French and British Colonies: Population Growth

Answer 1

British colonies were permanent and a lot bigger (1 million people by 1750). The British had 5 major seaport towns (New York, Newport, Boston, Charlestown, Philadelphia) which helped with population growth. Virginia was the most populous colony.

French colonies were a lot smaller (only 60,000) and their colonies were very small, which hampered growth.

Question 2

Differences between French and British Colonies: Economic Activity

Answer 2

90% of British settlers farmed the land. One of their main crops was Tobacco (the value of tobacco exports rose from £14 million in 1670s to £100 million in 1770s).

French wanted to supply France with fish and furs

Question 3

Differences between French and British Colonies: Relationship with the Native Americans

Answer 3

British colonies were permanent whilst most of the French ones were smaller or not permanent, making the Native Americans friendlier with the French.

The French’s economic activity also brought them into more contact with the Native Americans and they adopted more of their customs than the English, who just took their land for farming.

Question 4

Differences between French and British Colonies: Migration

Answer 4

400,000 people went to the colonies between 1700 - 1763. These included migrants from Europe, slaves from Africa and many different protestant group who might have faced persecution in England.

France only let French Catholics move to the colonies, and far less people moved permanently.

Question 5

Differences between French and British Colonies: Religion

Answer 5

British colonists enjoyed a lot of religious freedom, but the main religion in most of the colonies was Protestantism (except Maryland, which was Catholic). This is due to the varied migration and little control from Britain.

The French colonies were strictly Catholic and had little religious eous freedom

Question 6

Differences between French and British Colonies: Interference from “motherland”

Answer 6

British colonies had very little influence from the King. He would give a company or an individual a charter to the new land, but wouldn’t fund the expedition and had little influence over the colony that was set up.

France was an absolute monarchy and the time, and the king had a lot of influence and tight control over the colonists. The inhabitants would be taxed and conscripted.

Question 7

Differences between French and British Colonies: Political Outlook

Answer 7

The British colonies were feared coming under the control of the French, especially since they didn’t have as much connection with England and wouldn’t be able to defend themselves.

The French colonies were run very closely by the French monarchy. France often worked with Spain to limit Britain’s control in North America.

Question 8

What did trade between the Colonies and Britain lead to?

Answer 8

Rapid economic growth in the colonies:
3% per year

Question 9

Define Mercantilism

Answer 9

The belief that the Colonies main purpose was to support Britain’s economy.

Question 10

How did Mercantilism support the British economy?

Answer 10

1. Provided Britain with raw materials
2. Provided a market for British goods in the colonies
3. Provided employment of trade ships
4. Britain collected duties on all outports from the colonies

Question 11

What where the Navigation Acts and when were they passed?

Answer 11

They were a series of Acts passed by the British to protect Mercantilism.
They were passed between 1651 - 1673.

Question 12

How did the Navigation Acts (and other laws) protect mercantilism?

Answer 12

1. They declared that goods from the colonies could only be transported by English ships manned by largely English crews which provided more employment for the English.
2. The government also passed laws restricting the number of certain goods that could be manufactured by the colonists, therefore redirecting the buying of those goods back to England.

Question 13

Why did the people in the colonies support / tolerate Mercantilism?

Answer 13

1. They benefitted from the market for their goods in England that Mercantilism provided. This was especially important for Tobacco.
2. The duties were lovely enforced and the people collecting them were often open to bribes since they tended to be the deputy of the person actually tasked to collect them.