Sign Up Now
Get instant access to over 1 million+ study documents
OR
Already registered? click here to login
By creating your account, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and student honor code.
¶ … Colonial Merchants and the American Revolution: 1763 to1776 by Arthur M. Schlesinger. (New York: Facsimile Library, Inc., 1939), 647, (381.0973).
This book covers a part of history that is often forgotten - the economic history of the U.S. As it headed into the Revolutionary War. While most people know part of the reason Americans wanted to break from England was outrageous tariffs on imports and exports, the merchants who dealt in these commodities are often forgotten or overlooked. In addition, there were trade sanctions that stated American goods could only be shipped out of England, and this reduced the effectiveness of commerce. This book delves into the reasons the Colonials were angry about the British tariffs and duties, and what they did to overcome fiscal obstacles. Commerce was king in the colonies before the Revolution, and the merchants were not above smuggling to get around the strict British system. The book shows our ancestors to be ingenious traders who hoped to succeed fiscally...
The author illustrates that Britain did attempt to make concessions to the Colonists, such as repealing the Stamp Act, which worked for a while, but ultimately, the economic policy of Britain and the Colonies did not mesh, and dissatisfaction and war had to be the ultimate result. He also shows that all the merchants from city to city were not in agreement, but they were nearly all dissatisfied with the regulations and tight controls of England, Parliament, and the Board of Trade.
The author's thesis is quite clear. He offers a detailed look inside the commerce and trade of early America, and the motivation of the merchants to continue their profitable ventures without interference from the mother country. The author only covers the period from 1763 to the origins of the Revolution in 1776, yet the book's scope is quite large, and the material covered is extensive. The author clearly researched every facet of the book, as the footnotes and extensive bibliography clearly…
Critically, this book is quite comprehensive in its' scope and value. The author presents his evidence clearly and forcefully, while constructing a vivid picture of the people of America and their worries before the Revolutionary War. He captures a country on the brink of independence, and illustrates the forces active within, and how they shaped the will of most of the people, (but certainly not all). The style of writing is a bit dated, but so is the copyright, and it fits the subject of the book quite well. The book is worthwhile, but the reader might wonder what new information has been unearthed since this book was written that might shed additional light on the subject. The author originally wrote the book in 1917, and it seems there must be new data and research uncovered since then that might add to the scope and presence of the book. The strongest point of this book is the research done by the author, and his clear understanding of the subject and his purpose in writing. The weakest point of the book may be its' age, updating might make this book even stronger.
References
Schlesinger, Arthur M. Colonial Merchants and the American Revolution 1763 to 1776. New York: Facsimile Library, Inc., 1939.
Economy of Colonial America Brief chronology of the initial economic developments of the colonies Jamestown, Virginia colony was first to show signs of economic growth Massachusetts Bay colonists buy corn from Indians Literature generalizations and postulations on economy of colonies Puritanism may have helped shape the capitalistic society to evolve The strength of the British Navy altered colonial approach to economic growth Colonial farmers' efforts were more towards self-sufficiency than wealth Rate of Economic Growth in colonies Colonial economy
Colonial Women Different Experiences in Colonial America One of the central debates in the lives of early colonial women relates to their quality of life. Some have proposed that there was something of a golden age for women in the Colonial America while on the other end of the spectrum many believe that this notion is completely untrue (Norton, 1984). This seems odd to some as women born into slavery were owned
The result, however, seems less scholarly, less cold and professionally aloof than similar works by other more science-minded authors. Earle, however, operates with the intent to construct a true-to-life catalogue of the things that went into making up the lives of the Colonists. Earle's research does lead the reader to trust her sources and her findings, but the writing style can still distract from the overall impact - by
Colonial America Annotated bibliography Crimean, Lawrence. (1970). American education: The colonial experience, 1607-1783. New York: HarperCollins. Education has been a profoundly democratizing influence in American history but it has also been used to reinforce principles of elitism, according to Crimean's analysis. On one hand, education was seen a cornerstone of America's status as a New Israel and a way of reinforcing spiritual values amongst all mankind; yet it was also used as a means
..That sight was most appaling [sic], yet, I was obliged to endure it without complaining." However, as she became acculturated to American Indian culture, Jemison was able to understand and tolerate more the traditions of what she and her race of white Americans considered as savages. As an adopted daughter of the Indians, Jemison was able to provide an objective and unbiased observation of the ways and traditions of the race
Epidemics and Smallpox in Colonial America In 1992, the Smithsonian Museum held an exhibit on the process of exchanges between the Old World and the New World that resulted from the explorations of Christopher Columbus. The exhibit, entitled Seeds of Change, focused on five catalysts or "seeds" which had the most far-reaching consequences for both Europe and the new colonies in the Americas. These catalysts were the horse, sugar, the potato, corn