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Topic: How did economic factors
contribute to Colonial Discontent
in the Pre-Revolutionary Era
(1763-1775)?
Do Now:
“The Seven Years War did not contribute to
colonial unity and frustration against the mother
country. It was Britain’s actions immediately after
the war which antagonized the colonists to the
point of revolution.”
Assess the validity of this statement
Underlying Causes of the Revolution
 Physical distance
 No class distinctions in
America  colonists
different from England
 Population differences
(size, ethnicities, etc)
 Culture, economics,
religion and 7 Years War
created a concept of
“Americans”
 Problems with
Mercantilism
British Mercantilism
 Competition to be the
richest country in
Europe
 Role of gold
 Exports must be
greater than imports
 Colonies to be a
market for mother
country
 Colonies as source for
raw materials
The Navigation Acts (1650)
 Codified Mercantilism
– Weakly enforced originally
(Salutary Neglect)
 Restricted trade to English
ships only
 Enumerated products
 Restrictions on what
colonials could manufacture
 Gold and sliver drained from
colonists
– Printing paper money 
depreciated
 Colonial laws could be
voided by Privy Council
Benefits and Drawbacks of
Mercantilism for the colonists
 Benefits
 Drawbacks
Benefits and Drawbacks of
Mercantilism for the colonists
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

 Benefits
Salutary Neglect for over 100
years
Until 1763, smuggling
“permitted”
Tobacco planters had a
monopoly in Britain
Colonial self-government
allowed
Protection by British Army
and Navy





 Drawbacks
Americans couldn’t trade
freely under favorable
conditions (other nations)
At the mercy of British
economic cycles
Tobacco vulnerable to
low prices (Virginians in
constant debt)
Enforcement after the
French and Indian War
Increase of colonial
resentment
Conclusion
 1) What was the goal of the British policy of
Mercantilism? How was this goal to be
attained?
 2) Were the colonists right to be angry about
the Navigation Acts? Explain.