Scientific Revolution
GG, MARNI, AND CAROL
The Decline of the Dutch
The whole situation of the Dutch decline is a perfect counterexample to the rise of the French and British fortunes
United Provinces are otherwise called the Dutch Netherlands
In the 17th century the were the greatest maritime power
After the wars of Louis XIV they were much weaker than what they were used to
Population of 2.5 million did not rise during the 18th century
The Dutch were no behind in power compared to their rivals (French and British)
They couldn’t even ensure the common defense of the realm
When the French and England merchants eliminated them as the middleman of maritime commerce because of the fact that their industry failed to complete effectively, the Dutch Economy suffered poorly
Heavy indirect taxes on goods and high wage demanded by the Dutch artisans made the price of Dutch products rise
Financial institutions still stood strong
Merchants moved away from traditional ventures and moved into credit and finance
Dutch were the first to perfect paper currency, a stock market, and a central bank
Dutch are now financial instead of trading brokers
The British and French Commercial Empires
Great Britain is beginning its rise of dominance of the seas
France was it’s serious competitor because they had a large army and navy
This rivalry consisted in 4 regions
The West Indies, both France and Britain colonized several sugar producing islands
This economy depended on slave producing West Africa
The North American Continent, the 13 colonies became a center for settlement, primary trading area
They also had powerful companies for trade with India and other Asian Islands
While French absolutism had a centralized structure of control, Britains North American colonies remained independent from each other
Both Britain and France had similar problems and achieved the same results
They both applied Mercantilist principles to their trade
Mercantilism
Supported trade by the state in order to increase power against neighbors
Advocated a favorable balance of trade
Net flow of gold and silver
Colonies could produce a staple good for the parent country and provide protected markets
Europe wanted to use overseas colonies to benefit the mother countries
Merchants, manufacturers, and shipowners involved in colonial trade were mostly successful
This seaborne commerce needed a naval power
Merchant ships had to be protected, trading rivals excluded, and regulations enforced
- Strategic ports needed to be established
Explore the financial profits of the empire
Colonial commerce provided new products like sugar, and stimulated new consumer demand
The value of French commerce quadrupled during the eighteenth century
Commerce with their colonies accounted for one third of both British and French foreign trade
West Indies trade was the largest, it expanded greatly
Value of French imports from the West Indies increased significantly
Islands produced tobacco, cotton, indigo, and sugar
These islands could produce little else, so they relied heavily on Europe exports
Triangular trade was popular
Many variations of Triangular trade existed
Colonial commerce was superimposed on a complex pattern of European trade in which Atlantic states carried off the lion’s share of profits
Slavery
- Global economic development depended on slaves and the favorable climate and good soil promoted this need for slavery.
- Europe did not condemn slavery but instead embraced in by trading them and using them as a large source of profit.
- This trade of slaves was called "The Atlantic Slave Trade"
- The enslavement took place in the inner parts of Europe and prices were constantly being increased because of the competitive nature of slave trade.
- Many black slaves did not survive their treatment long enough to reach the place they were being exported to.
- Slavery was expensive and became not only an important commodity but a great source of labor for Europeans.
Colonial Conflict
- The population of British North America was growing and had reached a population of 15 million by the end of the 18th century
- Some colonists began to push westward while others crowded in large cities including Boston, New York, Philadelphia
- All the while French colonists would continue prospering by fishing and fur trade
- The Ohio Valley region was second focus of colonial rivalry in America
- The French began assuming control over the wilderness while the British maintained power over the new colonies
- Both sides sought alliance with the American Indians but French gained the upper hand
- Some skirmishes between the French and British eventually leading to a full-fledged war called the French and Indian War
The buildup and conclusion of the Great War for Empire
Buildup:
Both France and Britain were becoming great superpowers and it came to a point where one had to topple the other to continue growing
Mainly caused by issues of trading rights with conflicts in the Hudson River
Since British population greatly exceeded that of French in North America, Britain had to expand to the Ohio Valley
These overlapping territorial expansion caused conflicts
In Europe, King Louis XV faced off Prussian Frederick II and the British government that was aided by William Pitt
Conclusion:
Britain became the main power after the Seven Years’ War
Britain gained various additional territories, especially in America at the expense of France’s territories
However, Britain did not allow its colonists to proceed any further into the territories it gained with the Proclamation of 1763
France and Britain both utilized the Native Americans in North America
France lost its place as a world power
This created opposition towards British from the colonists because Britain taxed its colonists exorbitantly
Analyze the British foothold in India
The British foothold in India was mainly inspired by mercantilist policies
Since India was broken into multiple principalities, Britain allowed those principalities to weaken each other on their own, and then rule
Similarly, with French’s reducing influence in global power, Britain dominated India
First, Britain invaded India economically with the Dutch East India Company, allowing India to become a very significant asset to Britain
Afterwards, Britain influenced India politically and employed leaders that advocated for British rule such as Robert Clive