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| | == Economic System == | | == Economic System == |
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| − | 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. | + | 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, then they are going to be abandoned or at least no longer protected by the European mother country. |
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| | 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> |
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| | The [[Spanish]] had a different system: they used a modified form of [[feudalism]], known as the encomienda system, in order to force the Indians to do the hard work. The "encomienda" was a grant by the King or Queen of Spain of power over Indians within a geographic region, a grant that was given to an "encomendero", who was the Spaniard in that region who would put the Indians to work.<ref>http://www.millersville.edu/~columbus/papers/scott-m.html</ref> The Indians themselves became known as the economiendas. | | The [[Spanish]] had a different system: they used a modified form of [[feudalism]], known as the encomienda system, in order to force the Indians to do the hard work. The "encomienda" was a grant by the King or Queen of Spain of power over Indians within a geographic region, a grant that was given to an "encomendero", who was the Spaniard in that region who would put the Indians to work.<ref>http://www.millersville.edu/~columbus/papers/scott-m.html</ref> The Indians themselves became known as the economiendas. |
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| − | The Spanish system looked better in theory, because the encomendero was supposed to educate the enonomiendas, convert them to Christianity (Catholicism), and not exercise any political power over them (as in telling them how to live). In practice, however, there were no "checks and balances" on exploitation and abuse of power in working the Indians. | + | The Spanish system looked better in theory, because the encomendero was supposed to educate the encomiendas, convert them to Christianity (Catholicism), and not exercise any political power over them (as in telling them how to live). In practice, however, there were no "checks and balances" preventing exploitation and abuse of power in working the Indians. |
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| − | Finally, College Board exams may ask about the "triangular trade" that supposedly dominated from 1640-1720. At the time no one called it a triangle, but some historians have used the image of triangle to show trade routes from West Africa to the New World America (the West Indies or the colonies), from there to Europe (England or continental Europe), and from there the boats presumably traveled back to West Africa to begin again. The harshest part of this route was the taking of slaves, bound in chains from West Africa to the New World. After the slaves disembarked, the New World would load goods onto the ships (such as raw molasses if the West Indies, or tobacco if Virginia) for transport to Europe. But what doesn't make sense about this theory is the following: what would Europe send on the ships back to Africa? Nothing comes to mind, and not a single instance of an actual triangle route has ever been found. Perhaps finished product, like rum from the molasses, would be loaded onto the ships, but its intended destination would be the colonies, not Africa. So in reality the only triangle could only be traversed by the boats, not by actual trade. | + | Finally, College Board exams may ask about the "triangular trade" that supposedly dominated from 1640-1720. Later historians have used the image of triangle to show trade routes from West Africa to the New World America (the West Indies or the colonies), from there to Europe (England or continental Europe), and from there the boats presumably traveled back to West Africa to begin again. The harshest part of this route was the taking of slaves, bound in chains from West Africa to the New World. After the slaves disembarked, the New World would load goods onto the ships (such as raw molasses if the West Indies, or tobacco if Virginia) for transport to Europe. But what doesn't make sense about this theory is the following: what would Europe send on the ships back to Africa? Nothing comes to mind (other than a few goods to purchase the slaves), and not a single instance of an actual triangle route has ever been found. Perhaps finished product, like rum from the molasses, would be loaded onto the ships, but its intended destination would be the colonies, not Africa. So in reality the only triangle could only be traversed by the boats, not by actual trade. |
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| | '''Debate: Did "triangular trade" really exist?''' | | '''Debate: Did "triangular trade" really exist?''' |