Lesson 1: English Colonial Policy

Lesson Focus

Britain attempted to control the prosperous American colonies' trade for its own economic gain. This lesson explores the restrictive laws passed and how colonists began to resist, setting the stage for future conflict.

People to Know

John Adams, Benjamin Franklin

Learning Objectives

• Understand the economic reasons behind Britain's policies for controlling colonial trade and resources.
• Explore how a distinct American identity, valuing individual effort and self-governance, developed during this period.

Great Britain believed its American colonies existed to make the home country wealthy. This policy meant the colonies were expected to supply raw materials for British industry and buy Britain's manufactured goods. To achieve this, Britain tried to tighten its control over the colonial economy. This viewpoint directly led to Parliament passing laws starting in the mid-1600s that restricted the colonists' ability to trade freely with other nations, creating tension over economic freedom.

To enforce its economic goals, Parliament passed the Trade and Navigation Acts beginning in 1651. These laws required that specific enumerated commodities like tobacco and sugar be shipped only to Britain. They also forced American ships to make a "broken voyage"—stopping in England to pay a tax, or duty, on goods from other European countries. As a result, colonists paid more for imports and earned less for some of their exports.

British manufacturers wanted to eliminate competition from the colonies. They influenced Parliament to pass laws like the Woolen Act of 1699, Hat Act of 1732, and Iron Act of 1750 to limit colonial manufacturing and exports. The Molasses Act of 1733 also taxed sugar from non-British ports to help plantation owners in the British West Indies. These acts intentionally slowed the growth of colonial industry to protect British businesses.

Because of the great distance and lack of officials, Britain adopted a policy of salutary neglect, or non-interference, in the colonies. This meant the strict trade laws were often not enforced. Colonists grew accustomed to ignoring the rules and developed a habit of smuggling to get around them. Note that this created a culture of independence, as colonists got used to ignoring British authority when it hurt their economic interests.

Living in a vast land of opportunity, the colonists became very self-sufficient. They built their own farms, trade, and local governments with little help from Britain. This experience forged a unique American character based on individual effort and a strong work ethic. Pay special attention to this: while colonists still needed British protection from the French, this growing spirit of independence set the stage for future conflict when Britain tried to reassert control.