Trans-Atlantic TRADE [APUSH Unit 2 Topic 4] 2.4
Heimler's History・2 minutes read
The main focus of Unit 2 in AP US History is the transatlantic trade from 1607 to 1754, including the triangular trade route and the impact of mercantilism on European economies and colonial societies. Mercantilism aimed to maintain a favorable balance of trade, leading to the establishment of colonies for access to raw materials and markets, transforming colonial societies through wealth generation, urbanization, and a consumer revolution that shifted societal status based on financial success.
Insights
- The AP US History curriculum from 1607 to 1754 emphasizes the significance of transatlantic trade, showcasing how the triangular trade route interconnected New England, West Africa, and the British West Indies through the exchange of rum, enslaved laborers, and sugarcane, illustrating the economic complexities of the time period.
- Mercantilism, a key economic system in Europe during this era, prioritized a favorable balance of trade by exporting more than importing, valuing wealth in terms of gold and silver, ultimately driving the establishment of colonies for resource acquisition, leading to societal transformations such as the rise of urban centers, a consumer revolution, and a shift in social status from lineage to financial prosperity.
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Recent questions
What time period does Unit 2 of AP US History cover?
1607 to 1754
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Summary
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"Transatlantic Trade and Colonial Transformation"
- The time period covered in Unit 2 of the AP US History curriculum is from 1607 to 1754, focusing on trade, particularly the transatlantic trade.
- The triangular trade route involved merchant ships starting in New England, trading rum for enslaved laborers in West Africa, then sailing the Middle Passage to the British West Indies to trade slaves for sugarcane, which was then traded for rum back in New England.
- Mercantilism, the dominant economic system in Europe during this time, aimed to maintain a favorable balance of trade by exporting more than importing, viewing wealth in terms of gold and silver.
- The transatlantic trade fueled by mercantilism led to the establishment of colonies for access to raw materials and markets, transforming colonial societies by generating wealth for elites, creating urban centers, and sparking a consumer revolution that shifted societal status from family pedigree to financial success.
