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Mercantilism is an economic practice by which governments use their economies to augment state power at the expense of other countries. Governments sought to ensure that exports exceeded imports and accumulated wealth in bullion (mostly gold and silver). The British government passed laws and regulations to control US colonial trade. They required that colonial goods be transported on British ships and that certain goods, such as tobacco and sugar, could only be exported to England. The cause of Mercantilism is the greediness of bigger countries because they wanted to build their wealth. This made the Americans unhappy because they couldn't trade with other countries. The effect is salutary neglect. Mercantilism happened between 16-18 centuries

Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/money/mercantilism. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.

Lesson 1 – Reading 1 - Colonial Mercantilism, www.inbarfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Lesson-1-Reading-1-Colonial-Mercantilism.pdf. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.

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Salutary neglect was a policy of the British government from the early to mid-18th century regarding its North American colonies. Under this policy, trade regulations for the colonies were laxly enforced, and imperial supervision of internal colonial affairs was loose as long as the colonies remained loyal to the British government and contributed to Britain's economic profitability. Salutary neglect benefitted the American colonies by allowing them to establish foreign trade relationships without British government control. The cause of salutary neglect was mercantilism. The effects were that now Americans were trading with other foreign countries. It also gave Americans their first taste of independence. Salutary neglect happened from the late 1600s to the late 1700s.

“Salutary Neglect.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/topic/salutary-neglect. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.

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The French and Indian War was the American phase of a worldwide nine-year war (1754–63) fought between France and Great Britain. (The more complex European phase was the Seven Years’ War [1756–63].) It determined control of the vast colonial territory of North America. The French and British were fighting over the Ohio River Valley. The cause of the war was that both the French and British wanted the valley to themselves so they could trade with the natives for a profit. The effects were the British winning and gaining a lot of territory, but they were put into debt, so they started taxing the Americans. (1754-1763).

“British Advantages and Victory.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 18 Dec. 2024, www.britannica.com/event/French-and-Indian-War/British-advantages-and-victory.

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The British are in debt from the French and Indian War and need a way to get their money back. To start building their financial state back up by putting a load of taxes on the Americans. Examples of the taxes were the Stamp Act, the Sugar Act, and the tax on tea. The Americans were unhappy about all the taxes getting put on them, and eventually, the term "No taxation without representation" started coming up, which meant that the British shouldn't be able to tax the Americans if the Americans didn't have any representation in their government. The effect of this event was that colonists began to revolt against the British government because they were unhappy with what was going on and eventually led to the Boston Tea Party. (1768-1689)

Kagan, Julia. “Taxation without Representation: What It Means and History.” Investopedia, Investopedia, www.investopedia.com/terms/t/tax_without_representation.asp#:~:text=The%20phrase%20taxation%20without%20representation,Taxation%20without%20representation%20is%20tyranny.%22. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.

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The Boston Tea Party was an incident in which 342 chests of tea belonging to the British East India Company were thrown from ships into Boston Harbor by American patriots disguised as Mohawk Indians. The Americans were protesting both a tax on tea (taxation without representation) and the perceived monopoly of the East India Company. The Boston Tea Party played a major role in the American Revolution. The cause of The Boston Tea Party was taxation Without Representation. The effects were that the British closed the Boston Harbor until they were paid back for the tea, and this was what gave the Americans the courage to revolt against the Brits. (1713)

“Boston Tea Party.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 9 Dec. 2024, www.britannica.com/event/Boston-Tea-Party.

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The Battles of Lexington and Concord, fought on April 19, 1775, kicked off the American Revolutionary War. Tensions had been building for many years between residents of the 13 American colonies and the British authorities, particularly in Massachusetts. The battle of Lexington and Concord is considered the first battle of the Revolutionary War which is why it is so important. The battle ended with the British fleeing and American victory. The cause of this battle was the British shutting down the Boston Harbor after the Boston Tea Party. The effect was the start of the Revolutionary War. (1775)

“Battles of Lexington and Concord ‑ Winner, Date, Summary.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battles-of-lexington-and-concord. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.

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The Declaration of Independence document that the Continental Congress approved on July 4, 1776, announced the separation of 13 North American British colonies from Great Britain. It explained why the Congress “unanimously” by the votes of 12 colonies (with New York abstaining) had resolved that “these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be Free and Independent States.” The Declaration of Independence was one of the most important things of the American Revolution. It stated that the United States was going to be independent from Great Britain. The cause of the Declaration of Independence was Americans wanted freedom. The effects were foreign governments seeing the US as an independent country and America gaining independence. (July 4th 1776)

“The Nature and Influence of the Declaration of Independence.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 17 Jan. 2025, www.britannica.com/topic/Declaration-of-Independence/The-nature-and-influence-of-the-Declaration-of-Independence.

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In 1781, American and French troops attacked British forces in Yorktown, Virginia, a stronghold of the British Army. The strength of American and Allied artillery, which only increased as the battle went on, ultimately forced the British to realize that the situation was hopeless. General Charles Lord Cornwallis formally surrendered to George Washington on October 19, 1781. This proved to be the last major action of the Revolutionary War, even though the Treaty of Paris would not be signed until almost two years later. The Battle of Yorktown is what caused the British to surrender. It was a surprise attack, and none of the British were expecting it. The cause of the Battle of Yorktown was the want for the 6-year war to be over. The effect was the British surrendering, the end of the Revolutionary War, and the making and signing of the Treaty of Paris. (1781)

“Yorktown: Sep 28 - Oct 19, 1781.” American Battlefield Trust, www.battlefields.org/learn/maps/yorktown-sep-28-oct-19-1781. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.