18th Century Expansion

EXPANSION IN THE 18TH CENTURY
economic and demographic changes
1700, 80% of western Europeans were farmers; higher % in eastern Europe
Most people lived in poverty
dramatic population growth until 1650; slows down until 1750
open-field system: greatest accomplishment of Medieval agriculture
village agriculture; 1/3 to ½ of fields lay fallow
serfs in eastern Europe were worst off; many sold with lands (like slavery)
è Agricultural Revolution: major milestone in human civilization
impact of the scientific revolution’s experimental method was great
crop rotation most important feature
enclosure movement: end to common lands and open-field system
agriculturalists consolidated lands and closed them off
game laws in England prohibited peasants from hunting game
caused considerable friction in the countryside in 17th and 18th centuries
traditional view of enclosure (Marx): poor people driven off the land
recent scholarship: negative impact of enclosure has been exaggerated
As much as 50% of lands enclosed already by 1750 (much by mutual consent)
1700: ratio of landless farmer to landowner = 2:1; not much greater in 1800
Low Countries: took the lead
increased population meant more food had to be produced
Cornelius Vermuyden: important in drainage of swamp lands into useful farm land
Huge impact on southern England
England
Viscount Charles Townsend (1674-1738): improved soil by crop rotation (turnips)
Drained extensively, manured heavily, regular crop rotation w/o fallowing
Jethro Tull (1674-1741): seed drill; more efficient than scattering seeds by hand
selective breeding of ordinary livestock: created larger animals
Population Explosion after 1750
limits to population growth before 1700: famine, disease, war
reasons for population growth: disappearance of plague, improved sanitation, improved
transportation for food distribution (canal and roadbuilding in western Europe), increased food supply (esp. potato),



è Cottage Industry: first and foremost a family enterprise (also called “putting-out” system)
occurred during Agricultural Revolution
Putting-out system: city manufacturers took advantage of cheaper labor in the countryside
increased rural population eager to supplement agricultural income.
began to challenge urban craft industry
Inventions
1733, John Kay: flying shuttle
1764, James Hargreaves: spinning jenny
1769, Richard Arkwright: water frame, which improved thread spinning.
1780s, Arkwright: steam engine to power looms; factory production of textiles.
1793, Eli Whitney, cotton gin

Atlantic Economy in the 17th and 18th Centuries
Characteristics
· World trade became fundamental
· Spain and Portugal revitalized their empires and began drawing more wealth from renewed development.
· Netherlands, Great Britain, and France benefited most; Great Britain the leading maritime power.
Britain’s commercial leadership based on mercantilism
Navigation Laws: aimed to reduce Dutch trade in Atlantic region (1st in 1651, Cromwell)
Mercantilism: self-sufficiency; colonies exist solely for benefit of mother country
South Sea Bubble: responsible for exploiting the asiento other commercial privileges won
from Spain after Treaty of Utrecht (1713)
Took over large portion of public debt by receiving gov’t bonds in return for shares of
its stock.
Stock values soared but the “bubble” burst in 1720
England recovered better than France who had created a Mississippi Bubble for
New Orleans commerce.
“Bubble Act”: forbade joint-stock companies, except those chartered by gov’t
3 Anglo-Dutch wars: hurt Dutch shipping and commerce
Netherlands’ “golden age: during 1st half of 16th century
Colonial Wars: Britain vs France
War of Spanish Succession (Queen Anne’s War) (1701-1713)
Treaty of Utrecht (1713):
Britain received asiento (slave trade) from Spain
Britain allowed to send 1 ship of merchandise annually into Panama.
War of Jenkins’ Ear (1739): started over Spanish anger over British abuse of asiento.
expanded into War of Austrian Succession the following year
War of Austrian Succession (King George’s War) (1740-1748)
Treaty of Aix-laChapelle (1748): restored status quo prior to war
Seven Years War (French and Indian War) (1754-1763)
William Pitt the Elder: successfully led war effort from Parliament
Wolfe defeated Montcalm on the Plains of Abraham (Battle of Quebec)
Treaty of Paris (1763): Britain gained all French territory in North America


N. American colonies: most valuable to Britain – tobacco, fish, lumber, grain
huge market for British goods: 2.5 million people by 1775
slavery
Spain’s Latin American colonies: helped revitalize Spanish empire in 18th c.
gold and silver mining recovered
significant trade with mother country
Creoles elite came to rival top Spanish authorities (about 10% of population)
Mestizos increased to about 20% of population
black slavery in Cuba and Puerto Rico
Portuguese Brazil: about 50% of population African by early 19th c.
more successful in blending races than in Spanish colonies or United States