How significant was imperial expansion between 1625-88 to the economy

NOT FINISHED

What is mercantilism?

The practice of accumulating wealth through trade with other countries. Normally done by building overseas empires + colonies, restricting all but necessary imports from rival countries, creating a self-sufficient economy + exporting any surplus goods for profit.

Reached its peak during the interregnum (1649-60)

When was the first Navigation Act passed?

1651

What were the terms of the 1651 Navigation Act?

- All goods imported to England + territories had to be on English ships.

- All crew on English ships had to be at least 1/2 English.

What was the economic impact of the 1651 Navigation Act?

- Designed to get rid of Dutch monopoly on freight trade in N Europe + N America.

- Customs revenue increased x3.5% between 1643 and 1659

How was the 1651 Navigation a victory over private trading companies?

- Routes to the middle east previously been saturated by merchants from Spain, France and Holland. The act resulted in the decline in their trade (English national interest now dominating the private companies)

- Helped the English dominate rather than the Dutch in the textile trade (new English draperies) and reduced imports of cheese + agriculture staples.

When was the 2nd Navigation Act passed and why?

1660, all Acts passed by the Commonwealth were repealed at the Restoration.

Who was the key driver behind the 1660 Navigation Act (+what does this show)?

Sir George Downing, had been Cromwell's ambassador to the Dutch, demonstrates the continued influence of a Republican anti-Dutch faction after 1660.

what was the content of the 1660 Navigation Act?

- Confirmed earlier legislation.

- Exports as well as imports banned from being carried on foreign ships.

- Long list, including tobacco and sugar, could only be shipped to England + colonies.

When was the Staple Act passed?

1663

What did the Staple Act say?

All goods shipped from the continent to the colonies had to pass through England.

What was the economic impact of the 1660 Navigation Act and 1663 Staple Act?

- Acts became the cornerstone of trade + expansion in the 2nd half of the century.

- Exports and imports both protected.

- Raw materials from the colonies could be re-exported to the continent (England benefits from their customs revenue before exporting)

- Empire grew wealthier through increased exports of raw materials as colonial population grew.

Key areas of Anglo-Dutch rivalry.

- International trade + manufacturing

- Over trade with the East

- Competition over American colonies

- Growing cloth finishing in England (had previously gone to Holland)

- Dutch access to English fishing ground.

Why was India a source of Anglo-Dutch rivalry?

- English East-India company founded 1600.

- Dutch East-India company founded 1602.

- Both companies traded predominantly in spices.

- Both companies received the same price and paid the same acquisition cost for their goods.

- BUT Dutch profits higher - had closer link with their own government (capital + assistance) + more shareholders, so were more efficient to meet expectations + pay dividends.

- Between 1615 and 1625 Dutch returned 65 ships for England's 35.

When was New Amsterdam captured by the English?

1664, renamed New York

Why was access to fishing grounds an area of conflict?

- 1/5 of Dutch population employed in fishing and relied on English fisheries.

- 1635 Charles I made an exclusive claim to seas around Britain. All vessels had to make a salute to English ships in the Channel and North sea.

- England began to search out and seize Dutch ships in their water (posed a significant threat to the Dutch role as the carriers of international trade).

Causes of the First Anglo-Dutch War.

- Nav Act (51) increased tensions.

- Dutch didn't salute in English waters.

- Small naval battle.

War began July 1652.

How did the First Anglo-Dutch war end?

- Treaty of Westminster in 1654 on lenient terms.

- Cromwell had become Lord Protector and wanted the Dutch as allies.

Causes of the second Anglo-Dutch war?

- Tipping point = English Captain seized Dutch colonies in Africa (1664) (had already been tension in the area). Charles II imprisoned the Captain but a skirmish followed.

- Dutch destroyed English ships of African coast, Charles ordered the blockade of Dutch ships by using the Channel.

- Holland declared war in 1665.

Outcome of the second Anglo-Dutch war?

- Humiliating for England (Holland more money than previous war were able to pay Denmark to join + Great plague/fire in London) - Dutch able to sail up the Thames + capture the flag ship of the fleet the Royal Charles.

- Dutch were then in a position to secure a relaxation Nav Act.

- War ended July 1667, Treaty of Breda (right to transport goods from German states on Dutch ships)

- War had a profound effect on the City of London, for a time it was hard to find insurers willing to cover voyages.

what were the causes of the third Anglo-Dutch war?

- War broke out in 1672

- Britain entered the Franco-Dutch war in support of France + signing of treaty of Dover in 1670.

outcomes of the third Anglo-Dutch war?

- Parliament didn't want Charles II getting too close with Louis XIV (fear of absolutism)

- 2nd treaty of Westminster signed 1674, reverted relations back to 1667

Why did the Anglo-Dutch rivalry end?

- William III became stadholder in 1672, married Mary in 1677 (daughter of future James II)

- Mutual anti-France sentiment (alliance against French formed) Edit of Nantes revoked in 1685 (had protected protestants)

- Rivalry over by the time William invited to take English

What was the overall impact of the Anglo-Dutch wars on the English economy?

- Helped and hindered

- When peace agreements/treaties were signed the English usually made improvements in international trade.

- But during the wars, economy in London would be at a standstill + after 2nd war.

when was Jamestown founded (+what was there)

1607, gold

Puritan settlement, what, where, when

1629

‘Providence Island Company’

modern day Nicaragua

Pym, Hampden + Earl of Warwick all had interests

Puritans to Massachussets

1630s - 20,000 Puritans to Massachusetts bay Colony fleeing persecution (key driver for Catholics and Puritans)

how much tobacco was being exported by 1700 from the NA colonies?

22 million lbs

When did Spanish sea power begin to decline?

1620s

when was Bermuda occupied?

1612

St Kitts

occupied 1624, Thomas Warner began growing tobacco and some limited trade with Europe took place

Antigua and Barbados

sugar primary crop

led to expansion of slave trade

1601-1650 estimated 24,500 slaver arrivals to Barbados

1651-1675, 63,200 more than x2.5

British settlers in 1662

4,000 British settlers (largely English, some impoverished Scots and Welsh)

treaty signed with Spain

Treaty of Madrid 1670

caused (in part) by the English capture of Jamaica + Cayman Islands

recognised English presence and permitted to the sail freely between islands