LIFE IN 18TH CENTURY EUROPE (jan 8, 1700 – dec 25, 1799)

Description:

Agriculture and the Land:

- Enclosure movement: began to allow individual farmers to experiment in farming methods. (continuous crop rotation)
- 1760-1805 Parliament completed enclosure of open fields.

Population Explosion:

- 18th century: Uneven but steady and sometimes rapid growth
- Population Europe: Doubled 1720-1835
- England: high birth rate bc of industrious revolution
- Royal roads and canals reduced famines as food could be transported to places in need.

Cottage Industry :

- This was not regulated more advantageous.
- Cottage industry developed most effectively in England (weaving) as early as 1500.
- Industrial Revolution
- - Reduced leisure time; increased workload; women and kids wage work instead of home.
- - Transition from family business to all family members wage earners.
- - Mid 1800’s is when “breadwinner” male as sole earner of income came into it.

Atlantic Economy and Adam Smith:

- Economic Liberalism: Free trade and competition “Invisible hand” benefits all of society
- - “Wealth of Nations”
- - Criticized guilds for restrictions which limited innovation
- - Division of labor: separating production amongst workers to increase efficiency
- - Limited regulation by government

Atlantic Economy:

- Increase in world trade
- Great Britain (1707) became leading naval power in 18th century.
- 1600’s Mercantilism: favorable balance of foreign trade, increase gold stock.
- Navigation Acts: laws that controlled import of goods to Britain and British colonies. Economic warfare against Dutch. English-Dutch Wars: 1652-74
- Main Competition was then against French
- - War of Spanish Succession: France cedes Hudson Bay, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. Spain gives up slaves trade to Britain and allows 1 British trade ship a year into Spanish territory.
- - 7 Years War: French and Indian War: 1756-1763: Treaty of Paris: France loses all new world colonies except caribbean.

- Triangle trade
- France: still held wealthy plantations in Caribbean, boosted confidence of merchants demanding political reform.
- Spain: Gained Louisiana and moved into California.
- Silver mines recovered
- Debt Peonage: serfdom in which landowner keeps workers as slaves by advancing food, shelter, and very low wages.

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