Vol. I Chapter 9
British Mercantilism over Virginia
Mercantilism was the grant or sale of monopolies and subsidies to favored groups of businessmen. The Crown, feudal nobility, and privileged capitalists ruled over everyone else, including all the non-privileged merchants.
Tariffs on imports from the colonies meant money for the Crown. Collections could be increased by requiring the colonies to ship goods to English ports first, even when shipping to other countries. This was first applied to tobacco.
There were other acts called Navigation Acts. These prevented foreign ships from trading in the colonies without a license. This caused a shortage of shipping and made it difficult to export goods. Other restrictions were added during the 1600s. Vice admiralty courts were added to the colonies to enforce the acts. These courts operated under Roman law, preventing trial by a jury sympathetic to smugglers trying to evade the restrictions on trade.
The trade laws cut demand for tobacco, hurting Virginia farmers. This also made imported goods more expensive.
The English government forbade Virginia from restricting the slave trade. English slave traders benefited highly from this trade. The English won a monopoly on the slave trade after wars with the Dutch.
Governor Berkeley tightened oligarchic control at all levels of government within the colony. Quakers were often the first to be persecuted whenever there was a crackdown. Berkeley is famously quoted as being against free schools and printing, because these led to learning, and disobedience, heresy and sects would follow.
A proprietary grant of all of Virginia was made in 1673. This would mean absolute rule of the whole colony by a company, with no guarantee of rights to the colonists. Virginia sent negotiators for removal of the grant and succeeded, except for the right of the company to collect quitrents and escheats.
Some small efforts were made at tax rebellion.
Mercantilism was the grant or sale of monopolies and subsidies to favored groups of businessmen. The Crown, feudal nobility, and privileged capitalists ruled over everyone else, including all the non-privileged merchants.
Tariffs on imports from the colonies meant money for the Crown. Collections could be increased by requiring the colonies to ship goods to English ports first, even when shipping to other countries. This was first applied to tobacco.
There were other acts called Navigation Acts. These prevented foreign ships from trading in the colonies without a license. This caused a shortage of shipping and made it difficult to export goods. Other restrictions were added during the 1600s. Vice admiralty courts were added to the colonies to enforce the acts. These courts operated under Roman law, preventing trial by a jury sympathetic to smugglers trying to evade the restrictions on trade.
The trade laws cut demand for tobacco, hurting Virginia farmers. This also made imported goods more expensive.
The English government forbade Virginia from restricting the slave trade. English slave traders benefited highly from this trade. The English won a monopoly on the slave trade after wars with the Dutch.
Governor Berkeley tightened oligarchic control at all levels of government within the colony. Quakers were often the first to be persecuted whenever there was a crackdown. Berkeley is famously quoted as being against free schools and printing, because these led to learning, and disobedience, heresy and sects would follow.
A proprietary grant of all of Virginia was made in 1673. This would mean absolute rule of the whole colony by a company, with no guarantee of rights to the colonists. Virginia sent negotiators for removal of the grant and succeeded, except for the right of the company to collect quitrents and escheats.
Some small efforts were made at tax rebellion.
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