Mercantilism and Salutary Neglect (APUSH Unit 2 - Key Concept 2.2)

Marco Learning

2 Apr 202004:12

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TLDRThe script discusses the formative years leading up to the American Revolution, highlighting the complex relationship between the British colonies and Great Britain. It emphasizes the transatlantic exchanges in politics, society, culture, and economy that fostered both unity and resistance. The First Great Awakening's evangelical movement is noted as a significant cultural shift, occurring simultaneously across the Atlantic. The British government's mercantilist policies and salutary neglect led to colonial self-governance and the development of a distinct American identity, including a unique form of slavery. The narrative progresses to the American Revolution, sparked by the colonies' growing autonomy and skepticism towards British rule.

Takeaways

📚 The British colonies were engaged in various exchanges with Great Britain, promoting both stronger bonds and resistance to British control.
🎶 The First Great Awakening in the 1730s and 1740s, a transatlantic evangelical movement influenced by English revival preaching, played a significant cultural role.
🖥 British attempts to unify its colonies under a single empire were marked by policies like mercantilism, emphasizing exports over imports.
🧳 Salutary neglect, a British policy of not strictly enforcing laws in the colonies, led to colonists becoming accustomed to self-governance, fueling independence desires.
🛩 The tension between the unified British Empire's culture and the colonies' growing independence and skepticism of British oversight is central to understanding the era.
👨‍💻 The development of a distinctively American style of slavery, transitioning from indentured servitude to relying on the African slave trade, highlights evolving labor practices.
📺 The ideology that emerged in the American South, rationalizing slavery through racial superiority, became a defining aspect of its identity.
🎧 Recent historical focus has shifted towards the perspectives of slaves, exploring their retained African culture and newly developed traditions in the Americas.
🔬 The central tension of the era is encapsulated by the British Empire's unified transatlantic culture versus the American colonies' drive for self-governance and distinct identity.
🚩 The culmination of these dynamics, tensions, and ideologies set the stage for the American Revolution in the 1760s and 1770s.

Q & A

What were the key areas of exchange between the British colonies and Great Britain during the time leading up to the American Revolution?
-The key areas of exchange included political, social, cultural, and economic interactions.
What is the significance of the First Great Awakening in the context of the American colonies and Great Britain?
-The First Great Awakening was a significant transatlantic, evangelical movement that occurred in the 1730s and 40s, influencing both the American colonies and Great Britain, and played a crucial role in the rise of evangelicalism.
How did the British government attempt to unify its colonies through mercantilism?
-Mercantilism was a policy that emphasized exports over imports, using colonies to produce goods that would then be sold worldwide, aiming to create a single, unified transatlantic Empire.
What was the 'salutary neglect' and how did it contribute to the growing tension between the colonies and Britain?
-Salutary neglect referred to the British government's practice of not strictly enforcing their laws in the colonies. This led to the colonists becoming accustomed to self-governance and eventually resisting British oversight.
How did the development of a distinctively American style of slavery contribute to the cultural and ideological differences between the colonies and Great Britain?
-The development of a distinctively American style of slavery, including the use of African slaves and the establishment of a racist ideology that justified the enslavement of black people, contributed to the cultural and ideological differences and furthered the colonies' move towards independence.
What shift has occurred in recent historical focus regarding the study of slavery in America?
-Recent historical focus has shifted from solely examining the actions of slave masters to also exploring the culture, music, religion, and traditions of the slaves themselves, as well as their perspectives and experiences.
How did the British colonies' self-governance and establishment of their own institutions contribute to the central tension of Key Concept 2.2?
-The self-governance and establishment of their own institutions by the British colonies led to a central tension where, on one hand, the British sought to maintain a unified culture and empire, while on the other hand, the colonies were increasingly thinking independently and establishing their own identities.
What was the role of George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards in the First Great Awakening?
-George Whitefield, a British preacher, and Jonathan Edwards, an American preacher, were key figures in the First Great Awakening. They both preached similar messages, contributing to the spread of evangelicalism across the Atlantic.
How did the British colonies transition from using indentured servitude to the African slave trade?
-The transition occurred because there were not enough indentured servants to sustain the labor demands of the colonies. As a result, the British turned to the African slave trade to import slaves into all the colonies.
What is the significance of the belief that God intended for white people to enslave black people in the development of the American South's identity?
-This belief, rooted in a racist ideology, became central to the American South's identity and justified the institution of slavery, contributing to the cultural and ideological divide between the North and South.
How did the tensions between the British Empire's unification efforts and the American colonies' push for independence eventually lead to a major historical event?
-These tensions culminated in the American Revolution of the 1760s and 70s, as the colonies sought to establish their own governance and identity separate from British rule.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 The Birth of American Identity and Colonial Tensions

This paragraph discusses the early foundations of the American Revolution, highlighting the complex relationship between the British colonies and Great Britain. It emphasizes the political, social, cultural, and economic exchanges that both strengthened ties and fostered resistance to British control. The first Great Awakening, a transatlantic evangelical movement influenced by English revival preaching, is noted as a significant cultural change. The British government's mercantilism policy and the concept of salutary neglect are explained, showing how these practices inadvertently led to colonial self-governance and the rise of a distinctly American identity. The development of American slavery is also discussed, tracing its roots from indentured servitude to the African slave trade, and the racist ideologies that emerged in the American South.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡American Revolution

The American Revolution refers to the political, social, and military upheaval that led to the establishment of the United States as an independent nation. In the context of the video, it signifies the culmination of tensions between the British colonies in North America and the British government, which had been growing due to issues like mercantilism and the development of a distinct American identity.

💡Great Awakening

The Great Awakening refers to a series of religious revivals that swept the Atlantic world, including the American colonies and Great Britain, during the 1730s and 1740s. It was characterized by intense religious fervor and a focus on personal salvation. In the video, the first Great Awakening is described as a transatlantic phenomenon and an evangelical movement that significantly influenced the religious landscape of the 1800s and 1900s.

💡Transatlantic

Transatlantic describes the movement or connection across the Atlantic Ocean, often used to refer to exchanges between Europe and the Americas. In the video, the term is used to describe the simultaneous occurrence of the first Great Awakening on both sides of the Atlantic, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the colonies with Great Britain during this period.

💡Evangelicalism

Evangelicalism is a Christian movement that emphasizes personal faith in Jesus Christ, the authority of the Bible, and the importance of sharing one's faith with others. In the context of the video, the rise of evangelicalism is linked to the first Great Awakening and its impact on the religious beliefs and practices in the American colonies and beyond.

💡Mercantilism

Mercantilism is an economic policy that prioritizes exports over imports, aiming to accumulate wealth through a positive balance of trade. The British government applied this policy to its colonies, using them as sources of raw materials and markets for British manufactured goods. In the video, mercantilism is discussed as a means of governing the colonies and its role in creating economic tensions that contributed to the American Revolution.

💡Salutary Neglect

Salutary Neglect refers to the British government's policy of largely ignoring the internal affairs of its American colonies, which inadvertently allowed the colonies to develop a sense of autonomy and self-governance. The video explains that this policy led to the colonists becoming accustomed to making their own rules, which eventually contributed to the growing tension and desire for independence from Britain.

💡Indentured Servitude

Indentured servitude was a system where individuals would sign a contract to work for a set period of time in exchange for their passage to the colonies or repayment of a debt. It was a precursor to slavery in the American colonies. The video mentions that indentured servitude was initially used but was insufficient for the labor demands, leading to the shift towards the African slave trade.

💡African Slave Trade

The African Slave Trade refers to the historical practice of trading African people as slaves, primarily to the Americas. The video discusses how the British colonies turned to this trade to meet their labor needs when indentured servitude proved inadequate. This trade led to the development of a distinct American style of slavery and a racist ideology that would persist throughout American history.

💡Racist Ideology

Racist ideology is a set of beliefs that promote the idea of racial superiority and inferiority. In the context of the video, it is linked to the development of slavery in the American South, where the notion that God intended for white people to enslave black people became central to the region's identity. This ideology was deeply rooted in the social and cultural fabric of the South and played a significant role in the Civil War of the 1860s.

💡Cultural Exchange

Cultural exchange refers to the sharing of ideas, values, and practices between different societies. The video highlights that the British colonies engaged in cultural exchanges with Great Britain, which both strengthened ties with Britain and fostered a sense of resistance to its control. These exchanges were multifaceted, encompassing political, social, and economic aspects, and contributed to the development of a unique American identity.

💡Self-Governance

Self-governance is the ability of a group or territory to manage its own affairs without external control. In the video, it is mentioned that due to salutary neglect, the American colonies began to establish their own governing institutions and rules, leading to a growing sense of independence and the eventual desire for self-governance, which was a key factor in the lead-up to the American Revolution.

Highlights

The American Revolution's foundations were laid during a time of significant cultural and political changes.

British colonies engaged in political, social, cultural, and economic exchanges with Great Britain, leading to both stronger bonds and resistance.

The First Great Awakening was a transatlantic, evangelical movement influenced by English revival preaching in the 1730s and 40s.

The First Great Awakening occurred simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic, marking a significant transatlantic phenomenon.

George Whitfield, a British preacher, and Jonathan Edwards, an American preacher, were key figures in spreading the evangelical message.

The British government aimed to create a unified transatlantic Empire, governing colonies through mercantilism, which emphasized exports over imports.

Salutary neglect was a policy of the British, where they did not enforce their own laws, leading to colonists governing themselves and resisting British control.

The development of a distinctively American style of slavery was a significant shift from the previous use of indentured servitude.

The British turned to the African slave trade to support their colonies, leading to a higher number of slaves in the American South.

A racist ideology developed around slavery in the American South, with the belief that God intended for white people to enslave black people.

Recent historical focus has shifted towards the slaves themselves, examining their culture, music, religion, and traditions.

The tension between the British Empire's unified culture and the American colonies' growing independence was central to the period leading up to the American Revolution.

The American colonies began establishing their own governing institutions and developing their own ideas of what they could be, distinct from British rule.

The central tension of key concept 2.2 is the struggle between the British Empire's transatlantic unity and the American colonies' pursuit of self-governance and independence.

The American Revolution of the 1760s and 70s was a culmination of the growing tensions between the colonies and the British Empire.

Transcripts

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Mercantilism and Salutary Neglect (APUSH Unit 2 - Key Concept 2.2)

Takeaways

Q & A

What were the key areas of exchange between the British colonies and Great Britain during the time leading up to the American Revolution?

What is the significance of the First Great Awakening in the context of the American colonies and Great Britain?

How did the British government attempt to unify its colonies through mercantilism?

What was the 'salutary neglect' and how did it contribute to the growing tension between the colonies and Britain?

How did the development of a distinctively American style of slavery contribute to the cultural and ideological differences between the colonies and Great Britain?

What shift has occurred in recent historical focus regarding the study of slavery in America?

How did the British colonies' self-governance and establishment of their own institutions contribute to the central tension of Key Concept 2.2?

What was the role of George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards in the First Great Awakening?

How did the British colonies transition from using indentured servitude to the African slave trade?

What is the significance of the belief that God intended for white people to enslave black people in the development of the American South's identity?

How did the tensions between the British Empire's unification efforts and the American colonies' push for independence eventually lead to a major historical event?