Benjamin Franklin: Symbol of American Social Mercantilism

An economic policy under which nations sought to increase their wealth and power by obtaining large amounts of gold and silver and by selling more goods than they bought.

American intellectual, inventor, ambassador, and politician. Born poor but died as one of the richest men in America. Symbol of American social mobility an individualism.

Trade between the Americas, Europe, and Africa.

A three way system of trade during 1600-1800s, Europe sent manufactured goods to Africa, Africa sent slaves to America, America sent Raw Materials to Europe.

Second leg of the Triangular Trade routes that brought enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to North America and the West Indies. Slaves were subjected to horrible conditions, starvation, disease, torture, chains, and brands. Average death rate was 20% of the human cargo.

As plantations in the colonies began to expand by cultivating more acres to produce cash crops such as rice, tobacco, and cotton, the need for more slaves also increased.

Slave communities were rich with music, dance, unique foods, story telling. Enslaved Africans brought with them the arts and craft skills of their various tribes.

Britain's attempt to regulate and control colonial trade and increase tax revenues to the "Mother Country". Placed numerous trade restrictions on the colonies. Forced colonial merchants to use British ships for shipping goods.

Stressed individualism, reason, logic, & science. Challenged old ways of thinking, government officials, monarchies, & church officials.

- cramped, close quarters - dirty, damp, unsanitary - disease rampant - torture - starvation

- born poor - little formal education (2 yrs) - ran away from home - self educated - started a print shop - published Poor Richard's Almanac - politician, world traveler, inventor, education advocate - died as one of the most popular, respected, and richest men in America

- Religious revival stressed spirituality - questioned churches strict rules, regulations, and guidelines - emphasized individualism, interpret Bible, find God anywhere - many new religious sects(groups) formed, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist - promoted unity (we are all brothers and sisters) - inadvertently "awakened" American patriotism