Changes

== Economic System ==

== Economic System ==

Ultimately, and this is the most difficult for students to understand, it is money ([[economics]]) that shapes much of history.  If the colonies were profitable for their mother countries in Europe, then the mother countries would continue to support and defend the colonies.  But of the colonies were a money-loser, as in costing more to defend then they make for the defending motherland, then they are going to be abandoned or at least no longer protected by the European sponsor.

Ultimately, and this is the most difficult for students to understand, it is money ([[economics]]) that shapes much of history.  If the colonies were profitable for their mother countries in Europe, then the mother countries would continue to support and defend the colonies.  But if the colonies were a money-loser, as in costing more to defend then they make for the defending motherland, then they are going to be abandoned or at least no longer protected by the European sponsor.

Many of the colonies did make this work, and work well.  An [[economic]] system called [[mercantilism]] began to develop in the 1600s and 1700s, which would lay the foundation for capitalism in the 1800s.<ref>http://mars.wnec.edu/~grempel/courses/wc2/lectures/mercantilism.html</ref>

Many of the colonies did make this work, and work well.  An [[economic]] system called [[mercantilism]] began to develop in the 1600s and 1700s, which would lay the foundation for capitalism in the 1800s.<ref>http://mars.wnec.edu/~grempel/courses/wc2/lectures/mercantilism.html</ref>