Board of Trade

Definition

The Board of Trade was a government agency in colonial-era Britain that oversaw economic and commercial policy, including the administration of trade and navigation laws. It played a significant role in the aftermath of the French and Indian War by shaping Britain's economic policies towards its North American colonies.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Board of Trade was established in 1696 to oversee and regulate the economic and commercial activities of the British colonies, including those in North America.
2. After the French and Indian War, the Board of Trade played a key role in shaping Britain's economic policies towards the colonies, which led to increased tensions and the eventual American Revolution.
3. The Board of Trade was responsible for enforcing the Navigation Acts, which restricted colonial trade and shipping, and promoted a mercantilist economic system that benefited the British Empire.
4. The Board of Trade's policies were often seen as unfair by the colonists, as they limited the colonies' ability to engage in free trade and develop their own economic interests.
5. The Board of Trade's actions, such as imposing new taxes and duties on the colonies, were a major source of resentment and contributed to the growing sense of colonial discontent that ultimately led to the American Revolution.

Review Questions

• Describe the role of the Board of Trade in the aftermath of the French and Indian War and its impact on the colonial economy.
  • In the aftermath of the French and Indian War, the Board of Trade played a crucial role in shaping Britain's economic policies towards its North American colonies. The Board was responsible for enforcing the Navigation Acts, which restricted colonial trade and shipping, and promoted a mercantilist economic system that prioritized the interests of the British Empire over the colonies. This led to increased tensions between the colonies and the British government, as the colonists saw these policies as unfair and limiting their ability to develop their own economic interests. The Board of Trade's actions, such as imposing new taxes and duties on the colonies, were a major source of resentment and contributed to the growing sense of colonial discontent that ultimately led to the American Revolution.
• Analyze the relationship between the Board of Trade's policies and the growing sense of colonial discontent that led to the American Revolution.
  • The Board of Trade's policies in the aftermath of the French and Indian War were a significant factor in the growing sense of colonial discontent that ultimately led to the American Revolution. By enforcing the Navigation Acts and promoting a mercantilist economic system, the Board of Trade significantly limited the colonies' ability to engage in free trade and develop their own economic interests. This was seen as unfair by the colonists, who resented the restrictions placed on their economic activities and the prioritization of British interests over their own. The Board of Trade's actions, such as imposing new taxes and duties, further fueled this resentment and contributed to the growing sense of colonial grievances against the British government. As the colonists' frustration with these policies mounted, it laid the groundwork for the eventual American Revolution, where the colonies sought to assert their economic and political independence from the British Empire.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of the Board of Trade's policies on the relationship between the British colonies and the British government, and how this contributed to the American Revolution.
  • The long-term impact of the Board of Trade's policies in the aftermath of the French and Indian War was a significant deterioration of the relationship between the British colonies and the British government. By enforcing the Navigation Acts and promoting a mercantilist economic system that prioritized British interests over the colonies, the Board of Trade's actions fueled a growing sense of resentment and discontent among the colonists. This resentment was further exacerbated by the Board of Trade's imposition of new taxes and duties, which the colonists saw as a violation of their rights as British subjects. As the colonists' frustration with these policies mounted, it led to a fundamental shift in their perception of the British government, from a benevolent protector to an oppressive and exploitative force. This shift, combined with the colonists' growing sense of their own economic and political power, ultimately laid the groundwork for the American Revolution, where the colonies sought to assert their independence and establish a new political and economic order free from British control. The Board of Trade's policies, therefore, played a crucial role in the deterioration of the relationship between the colonies and the British government, and in the eventual outbreak of the American Revolution.

Related terms

Navigation Acts: A series of laws passed by the British Parliament that restricted colonial trade and shipping, requiring the colonies to trade only with Britain.

Mercantilism: An economic system where a country seeks to accumulate wealth, often by restricting imports and encouraging exports, in order to increase the country's power.

Colonial Economy: The economic activities and systems in place within the British colonies in North America, which were largely controlled and directed by the British government.