Colonial immigration and trade

Mercantilism

An economic theory that there is a finite amount of wealth in the world and governments should create policies to increase national wealth.

Thirteen English colonies

The group of colonies established by England that experienced major economic growth in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Colonial trade

Trade practices that were heavily regulated by Britain through acts like the Navigation Acts.

Navigation Acts

Laws passed by British Parliament to control colonial trade and ensure that the colonies benefitted England.

Trade surplus

A situation in which a country exports more than it imports.

Economic growth in colonies

The expansion and development of colonial economies during the 17th and 18th centuries due to mercantilist policies.

Indentured servants

Laborers who worked for a fixed number of years in exchange for passage to America and support.

American Revolution

A conflict that arose partly due to colonial resentment against British economic control.

Colonial resentment

The feelings of discontent among colonists towards British control over trade and economy.

Urbanization

The growth of cities in the colonies, fueled by shipping and trade.

Triangular Trade

A three-part trade system connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Middle Passage

The brutal route taken by slave ships from Africa to the Americas, transporting enslaved people.

Monopoly

Exclusive control over a commodity or service, often established through mercantilist policies.

Cash crops

Crops produced for commercial value, such as tobacco and rice, predominantly grown in the Southern colonies.

Fur trade

The industry centered around the trade of animal fur, especially prominent in France's North American colonies.

GDP

A measure of the economic performance of a country or region.

Natural resources

Materials supplied by nature used for economic gain, such as minerals, timber, and fur in the colonies.

Manufacturing

The process of turning raw materials into products, which the colonies contributed to under British mercantilism.

Trade regulations

Laws governing how trade is conducted, particularly by the British over the colonies.

Shipping industry

The segment of the economy involved in the transportation of goods by water, which grew under the Navigation Acts.

Colonial industries

Economic sectors that grew in the colonies, such as shipbuilding and warehousing.

Cultural diversity

The variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society, increased by immigration in the colonies.

Scots-Irish

The largest immigrant group by 1775, predominantly Scottish Presbyterians who migrated to America.

Religious freedom

The right to practice any religion, which many immigrants sought in the American colonies.

Slave trade

The forced transport of enslaved Africans to the Americas for labor.

Economic tensions

Conflicts arising from economic policies and practices between Britain and the American colonies.

Loyalists

Colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution.

Nativism

A socio-political policy favoring native inhabitants over immigrants.

Inhumane conditions

Unacceptable and degrading living scenarios often faced by enslaved Africans during transport.

Wage laborers

Workers who are paid a fixed amount for their service, often facing unstable employment.

Mercantilism and colonies

A system where colonies provided raw materials to the mother country and served its economic interests.

Commercial centers

Urban areas where trade is a dominant economic activity, such as Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.

Labor system

The organization of labor, including indentured servitude and slavery, in colonial economies.

Cultural pluralism

The coexistence of multiple cultural groups within a society, a result of immigration patterns.

Indentured servitude

A labor system where individuals worked for a set period in exchange for passage to America.

Economic independence

The ability of a colony to sustain its economy without reliance on the mother country.

British Parliament

The legislative body of Britain which enacted the Navigation Acts and other trade laws.

Population increase

The growth of the colonial population due to high birth rates and immigration.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms interacting with their environment, increased by diverse immigration.

Merchant elite

The wealthy class of traders that emerged in Colonial America, often supplying military efforts.

Agricultural economy

An economy primarily based on farming and the cultivation of crops.

Rural areas

Regions located outside urban centers, often characterized by agriculture.

Shipping and trade networks

The interconnected systems of maritime trade established by colonies.

Forced migration

The movement of populations against their will, particularly regarding enslaved Africans.

Decline in local control

The loss of power among local colonial governments due to British interference.

Economic growth drivers

Factors that contribute to the expansion of economies, including trade levels and immigration.

Royal authority

Government powers exercised by the British monarchy over colonial affairs.

Regional identities

Distinct cultural and economic characteristics that developed in different colonial areas.

Mid-18th century

The period when colonial economies began to expand rapidly due to trade and immigration.

Labor force composition

The makeup of the workforce, significantly shaped by immigration patterns.

Cash crop economy

An economy focused on the production of crops for sale rather than consumption.

Economic policies

Strategies adopted by a country to regulate its economy, significant in colonial relations.

Resistance to authority

Opposition to the control exerted by existing power structures, such as British rule.

Loyalty to the Crown

Allegiance that some colonists felt towards the British monarchy, influencing social allegiances.

Revocation of charters

The withdrawal of rights that granted colonies certain levels of self-governance.

Colonial demographics

Statistical characteristics of the colonial population, including age, ethnicity, and size.

Economic interdependence

The mutual economic reliance between Britain and its colonies.

Crops in Southern economy

Principal agricultural goods produced in the Southern colonies, such as rice, tobacco, and indigo.

European trade practices

Commercial tactics employed by European powers that impacted colonial economies.

Job opportunities for immigrants

Employment possibilities that drew immigrants to colonial America.

Navigational trade routes

Paths taken by ships for trade, significantly influenced by the Navigation Acts.

Colonial manufacturing restrictions

Laws imposed to limit manufacturing in the colonies, resulting in economic discontent.

Survival strategies

Methods utilized by immigrants and colonists to adapt to New World challenges.

High birth rates in colonies

A demographic factor contributing to population growth in colonial America.

Regional economic systems

Different economic practices that evolved in various parts of the colonies.

Elevation of living standards

Improvement in quality of life resulting from economic growth and opportunities.

Supply and demand dynamics

Economic principles governing the relationship between the availability of goods and consumer desire.

Land ownership opportunities

Possibilities for individuals to acquire property, significant for social mobility.

Cultural assimilation challenges

Obstacles faced by immigrants in adopting the customs and language of their new country.

Trade imbalance effects

Consequences of unequal trade between colonies and Britain, impacting colonial economies.