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Difficulty: MediumTransatlantic Trade and Mercantilism

"Of all the American Plantations, his Majesty has none so great, or so populous, that brings in so little profit to the Crown... as New England... The people of New England are a very industrious and ingenious people... but their industry lies in the same things as the industry of England, namely, in shipping, fishery, and tillage... so that they are rather a competitor than a helper to us."
— Sir Josiah Child, A New Discourse of Trade, 1693

Which of the following historical developments during the late seventeenth century best explains the concerns expressed in the excerpt?

  1. The expansion of colonial shipping and merchant networks that competed with English tradeAnswer
  2. B
    The establishment of a plantation-based economy in New England that relied on cash crops for export
  3. C
    A widespread shift in New England from chattel slavery to indentured servitude to meet manufacturing demands
  4. D
    The adoption of free-trade policies by the British Crown to encourage economic independence in the colonies

Answer

The expansion of colonial shipping and merchant networks that competed with English trade
The correct answer is correct because New England's economy was diversified and included shipping, shipbuilding, and fishing. These industries directly competed with those of England, running counter to the mercantilist goal where colonies were supposed to provide raw materials and purchase manufactured goods from the mother country rather than acting as economic competitors.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus to identify Sir Josiah Child's primary concern regarding New England.
The author views New England as an economic 'competitor' rather than a 'helper' because its industries (shipping, fishery, tillage) mirror those of England.
Understanding the source's perspective is necessary to connect it to the broader historical context of mercantilism.
2
Recall the principles of mercantilism and how colonies were expected to function.
Mercantilism required colonies to supply raw materials not found in the mother country and consume the mother country's manufactured goods, avoiding direct competition.
This establishes why New England's economic activities were seen as problematic or 'prejudicial' to English interests.
3
Evaluate the options to identify which development best matches the rise of New England as an economic competitor.
The option describing the expansion of colonial shipping and merchant networks accurately reflects New England's economic diversification and its competition with English trade.
This matches the historical development of the New England economy and the mercantilist anxieties that led to regulatory measures like the Navigation Acts.

Key Concept

The economic divergence of the New England colonies and the conflict it created within the British mercantilist system.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Transatlantic Trade and Mercantilism

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