How Did Trans-Atlantic Trade Influence The British North American Colonies

In the 18th century, there was the Atlantic Triangular Trade. This trading route involved Africa, Europe and the Americas trading back and forth to each other, which essentially formed a triangle (hence the name). Between Africa and North America, slaves, meat, fish, lumber, rum and grain went to and fro. Africa sold it's people into slavery in return for said goods. To America, this was an admirable trade.

The English colonies lacked full support from the crown of England, which in turn helped set up local government, and local interests, including the economics of the region. The English settled up and down the Atlantic coast line, and in accordance to the region of where the colony was located had much to do with their economics. The New England, middle, Chesapeake, southern, and British West Indies colonies all had different economic interests. The New England colonies primary motive for establishment through economics was to develop profitable trading centers.

The non-Separatist Puritans secured a royal charter from King Charles I to form the Massachusetts Bay Company in 1629. The Massachusetts Bay Company was planned to be a business venture, but was also used as a refuge for Puritans. The Bay Colony quickly became the biggest and most influential of all of the New England colonies. For many years, the charter was used as a constitution for the Company. Governmental power rested with the General Court, who then elected the governor and his assistants.

The French and Indian War ended in 1763, resulting in a British victory and British control of all previously French land, besides Louisiana, in North America. However, the British government was in massive debt following the war, and could not pay off the debt without procuring more funds from their citizens. This debt and future misunderstanding of specifically the colonists of the thirteen colonies is what led to the aforementioned colonists to desire independence. The British controlled much more besides the thirteen colonies.

The phrase "became smaller" in the twentieth century was possibly said due to the many inventions created. Some of these inventions would include the airplane, telephone ,and light bulb. People were able to communicate easily and were also able to travel all around the world. This could relate to how international trade was occurring in the late 1800s. Countries were finally able to discuss economic trade and how to get those items or materials to other places.

The fur trade was one of the most important industries in North America. It was an exchange between Europeans and Indians. The fur trade played a major role in colonization and exploration in North America. The fur trade stimulated exploration of the continent and provided a source of income that was important to many colonial businesses. The fur trade also stimulated colonization, as many French developed fur trade along the Mississippi river.

Great Britain colonized America in the 1700s. Shiploads of people came to build a new life; most of them came from England. The British East Indian Company dominated the trade across the Atlantic Ocean. By 1750, it had grown into one of the largest trading companies in the world. Therefore, Britain became rich and even though the trades earned a lot of money, the nobles wanted more.

Although the Spanish, French, and English all had major impacts on their respective settlements, the English had a substantial influence on what became the American colonies. From the early founding of Jamestown in 1607 until the calls for American independence in 1776, the people who settled in New England had a direct impact on the nation’s future. American culture and values changed over the course of the next one-and-a-half centuries, leading to uniqueness only present in the New World. Spanning from religious groups to scientific thinkers, developments in New England led to independent viewpoints that differed from Great Britain’s. Ultimately, this was a contributing factor for the American War of Independence in 1776.

Early American colonies were the base of what it is now known the United States of America. Although almost all of the colonies were from the same time period each colony differed from each other. Some of the colonies differed by their economic system and also by their way of running their colony, their government. Also, the colonies differed from their culture and their way they lived. In addition, the New England and the Chesapeake colonies were not the exception they also differed from each other.

“The American Flag represents all of us and all of the values we hold sacred” (Cronauer). When Christopher Columbus discovered America a new country was born. Europeans came and settled on this “new” land. They kept and created traditions and values, and we have kept those values ever since.