Colonial Trade Systems

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What was the Triangular Trade?

The Triangular Trade was a three-legged network of trade routes between Europe, Africa, and the Americas during the colonial era.

How did the Navigation Acts affect colonial trade?

The Navigation Acts were laws that restricted colonial trade to England and its colonies, ensuring that most colonial exports were shipped on English ships.

What role did the Middle Passage play in colonial trade?

The Middle Passage was the sea journey undertaken by slave ships from West Africa to the West Indies.

How did mercantilism influence colonial trade policies?

Mercantilism was an economic theory that emphasized the accumulation of wealth through trade, leading to colonial policies that favored exporting over importing.

What were ‘enumerated commodities’ in the context of colonial trade?

Enumerated commodities were specific goods that colonies could only ship to England or its colonies as per the Navigation Acts.

What economic impact did the Atlantic Slave Trade have on European colonial powers?

The Atlantic Slave Trade significantly enriched European colonial powers by providing cheap labor for their colonial plantations, boosting profits from trade.

How did colonial trade systems contribute to globalization?

Colonial trade systems laid the groundwork for globalization by establishing international trade routes and cultural exchanges between continents.

What was the role of ports like Boston and Philadelphia in colonial trade systems?

Ports like Boston and Philadelphia served as major hubs for importing and exporting goods, vital to the economy of the American colonies.

What types of goods were commonly traded from the Americas to Europe?

Common goods traded from the Americas to Europe included sugar, tobacco, cotton, and fur.

How did colonial trade systems impact Indigenous peoples in the Americas?

Colonial trade systems often led to displacement, exploitation, and cultural disruption for Indigenous peoples.

Why were sugar plantations crucial in colonial trade systems?

Sugar plantations were crucial because they were a major economic driver of both the Atlantic Slave Trade and European trade profits.

What were 'slave forts' and what role did they play in the colonial economy?

'Slave forts' were fortified structures where enslaved Africans were held before being transported to the Americas.

What is the significance of the British East India Company in the context of colonial trade?

The British East India Company was significant due to its role in expanding British colonial trade, particularly in Asia, and controlling the spice and textile trades.

How did the French and Indian War impact colonial trade?

The French and Indian War disrupted colonial trade but led to British dominance in North America, impacting future trade dynamics.

What economic consequences did the American Revolution have on colonial trade?

The American Revolution disrupted colonial trade, leading to the decline of British mercantile control and the emergence of America as an independent trade entity.


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