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Mercantilism

The mercantile system, also referred to as mercantilism, is an economic system in which the government controls what a merchant can charge (price) for goods and where the goods can be sold. This system benefits the government but does not necessarily benefit the merchant. You have no choice and no say in what you can charge or what you must pay for goods or where you can ship or how you ship. The entire system of trade is controlled by the government.

For a while, England controlled all trade in the colonies. The government in England decided what colonists would be paid for the goods they grew or made, and England decided where goods would be shipped. England also decided what goods were shipped to the colonies and how much those goods would cost when they got there. The colonists had very little to no say.

The policy of Mercantilism favored England because the raw materials (wood, cotton, etc.) from the colonies were used to make different products in England - finished goods have a higher value than raw materials.

The mercantile system and the “unfair” laws passed by England to control the trade in the colonies is why some colonists revolted against English rule, and helped to start the Revolutionary War. After the war, when England was no longer in charge in the colonies, the mercantile system was replaced with capitalism or free trade, a system we use today for goods transported into the United States that consumers can buy (imports) and out of the United States that owners can sell (exports).

Mercantilism Definition: ______

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Patriot

What was a patriot? Patriots were people who wanted the American colonies to gain their independence from Britain. They wanted their own country called the United States.

Why did people become patriots? People in the Americas felt they weren't being treated fairly by the British. They were being taxed without any say or representation in the British government. Soon cries for "liberty" were being heard throughout the colonies. The patriots wanted freedom from British rule.

Famous Patriots There were many famous patriots. Some of them became presidents such as Thomas Jefferson who wrote the Declaration of Independence and John Adams. Perhaps the most famous patriot at the time was George Washington who led the Continental Army and later became the first President of the United States. Other famous patriots included Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, Ethan Allen, Patrick Henry, and Ben Franklin. These people are often called the Founding Fathers of the United States.

Other Names for Patriots: Sons of Liberty, Rebels, Whigs, and Colonials

Interesting Facts about Loyalists and Patriots: Not everyone picked a side. Many people tried to remain neutral so they could avoid conflict and war.

Patriot Definition: ______

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Loyalist

What was a loyalist? Not everyone who lived in the American colonies wanted to break away from the British. There were many people who wanted to stay part of Britain and remain British citizens. These people were called loyalists.

Why did some people remain loyal? Many people felt that their lives would be better off if the colonies remained under British rule. Some of these people were simply afraid to go up against the strength of the British army. Others had business interests in England and knew that English trade was important to the economy. Still others thought that British rule would be better than patriot rule.

What happened to loyalists during the war? Life for the loyalists became increasingly difficult during the war. Loyalists who lived in areas controlled by the patriots were in constant danger from radical patriots. Many of them lost their homes and businesses.

Many loyalists left the country and went back to Britain. Others decided to help the British fight the patriots. They either joined the British army or formed their own groups.

What happened to the loyalists after the war? Many loyalists moved to England after the war ended. A lot of them lost their fortunes and land that they had built up over years in the Americas. In some cases the British government paid them for their loyalty, but it was usually not nearly as much as they had lost. The United States government wanted the loyalists to stay. They felt the new country could use their skills and education. Few stayed, however.

Other Names for Loyalists: Tories, Royalists, King’s Friends

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Parliament

What is “Parliament”? Parliament is the name of the national government, or group of people who make the laws, in several countries. These countries include Australia, Canada, India, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The kind of government that these countries have is called a parliamentary government.

Some parliaments are made up of members who are all elected, or chosen in a vote, by the citizens of the country. In other parliaments, some members are elected and others are not. Sometimes people become members of parliament because other people in their family were members. Sometimes people are chosen to serve in parliament by leaders of the government. Members of parliament usually belong to groups called political parties. Political parties stand for different ideas about how to run the government.

How is a Parliamentary Government Different than the U.S. Government? A parliamentary government is different from the government in the United States. In the United States, some leaders make laws, and other leaders put those laws into effect. But in a country with a parliament, the same leaders make the laws and put the laws into effect. In a parliamentary government, the important leaders, called ministers, are usually members of the parliament. Ministers form a group called the cabinet. The cabinet is allowed to stay in power only as long as most members in the parliament are happy with it.

Who is the Leader of Parliament? In most countries with a parliamentary government, the head of the cabinet is the prime minister. The prime minister is usually the leader of the political party or group of parties with the largest number of members in parliament.

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