Mercantilism and the Colonial World
Guiding Question
- Discover how mercantilism influenced the development of colonies in North America.
Objectives
- Students will consider the definition of mercantilism.
- Students will investigate connections between mercantilism and Atlantic triangular trade.
- Students will describe the impacts that the policy of mercantilism had on the American colonies.
Mercantilism: An economic system used in Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries that was based on precious metals as the form of wealth for a country and featured colonies to support the economy of the mother-country.
Engage
Mercantilism: An economic system used in Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries that was based on precious metals as the form of wealth for a country and featured colonies to support the economy of the mother-country.
- Write the term mercantilism on the board. Ask students if they are familiar with the phrase and what it means. Allow students to answer before writing the definition on the board.
- Distribute the Mercantilism and the Triangle Trade Essay to students. Draw students’ attention to the political cartoon at the top of the essay. Allow students to examine the image individually or in small groups and then lead them in a See, Think, Wonder activity.
- See: What do you see when you look at the image? Be as detailed as possible.
- Think: What do you think is the meaning of this image? What do you see that makes you think that?
- Wonder: What further questions does this image raise that you have after seeing it?
Scaffolding note: Create a three-column chart with students to collect their responses during the See, Think, Wonder activity to add extra support for students.
Explore
- Distribute the Mercantilism and Triangle Trade essay to students. As they read, have them highlight any words that are unfamiliar in one color and sentences that relate to the cartoon in another.
- Reconvene as a class and address any unfamiliar terms students highlighted. Have students answer the following questions:
- What was the goal of European nations in setting up mercantilist systems?
- Describe the relationship between mercantilism and the slave trade.
Assess & Reflect
- As an exit ticket, have students answer the following questions.
- In your own words, list out two key principles of mercantilism.
- How did the Triangle Trade impact North American colonies?
- How did your reading help you better understand the cartoon we saw at the start of class?
Extend (Optional)
- The Navigation Laws were a variety of policies passed by the British during this time regulating trade in the American colonies. Assign students to research a specific act in further detail and write a few paragraphs explaining it and how it is an example of mercantilist policy in action. Below are a few examples.
- Navigation Act of 1651
- Molasses Act of 1733
- Sugar Act of 1764