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Trans-Atlantic TRADE [APUSH Unit 2 Topic 4] 2.4
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Trans-Atlantic TRADE [APUSH Unit 2 Topic 4] 2.4

Trade and the Transatlantic Economy

Introduction to the Transatlantic Trade

  • The video discusses Unit Two of the AP US History curriculum, focusing on trade from 1607 to 1754, particularly the causes and effects of transatlantic trade.
  • The late 17th and early 18th centuries marked a shift towards global trade, leading to the development of a transatlantic economy.

Understanding Triangular Trade

  • The triangular trade involved merchant ships following a three-part journey that formed a triangle between New England, West Africa, and the British West Indies.
  • Ships would transport rum from New England to West Africa in exchange for enslaved laborers, who were then transported via the brutal Middle Passage.

Conditions of Enslavement

  • A famous diagram illustrates the horrific conditions endured by enslaved Africans during their journey across the Atlantic; this was later reformed by British Parliament's Slave Trade Act in 1788.
  • The act limited how many enslaved individuals could be packed into ships, highlighting previous inhumane practices.

Economic Principles: Mercantilism

  • Mercantilism dominated European economic thought at this time; it posited that wealth was finite and measured primarily in gold and silver.
  • Nations aimed for a favorable balance of trade—exporting more than importing—to maximize their share of wealth.

Colonial Impact and Consumer Revolution

  • Colonies provided raw materials unavailable in Europe while also serving as markets for manufactured goods. This led to increased interdependence between Britain and its colonies through Navigation Acts.
  • The transatlantic trade generated significant wealth for elites (merchants, investors), transforming American seaports into urban centers.

Societal Changes Due to Trade

  • This economic boom initiated a consumer revolution where societal status shifted from family lineage to financial success and lifestyle choices.
  • Individuals gained respect based on material possessions rather than heritage, indicating profound changes in social structures due to mercantilist policies.

Conclusion

Playlists: APUSH Unit 2
Video description

GET FOLLOW-ALONG NOTEGUIDES for this video: https://bit.ly/3NUwwmj AP HEIMLER REVIEW GUIDE (formerly known as the Ultimate Review Packet): +APUSH Heimler Review Guide: https://bit.ly/44p4pRL +AP Essay CRAM Course (DBQ, LEQ, SAQ Help): https://bit.ly/3XuwaWN +Bundle Heimler Review Guide and Essay CRAM Course: https://bit.ly/46tjbZo HEIMLER’S HISTORY MERCH! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_bOoi0e3L3SJ1xx5TZWHPw/store Instagram: @heimlers_history For more videos on APUSH Unit 2, check out the playlist: https://bit.ly/3562s12 In this video Heimler takes you through Unit 2 Topic 4 (2.4) of the AP U.S. History curriculum which is set in period 2 (1607-1754). He covers the transatlantic trade, and how it transformed every society which it touched in the Americas, Africa, and Europe. More specifically, you'll learn about the triangular trade which included the buying and selling of African enslaved laborers, many who perished across the dreaded middle passage. All of this was driven by the dominant economic system in Europe at the time, namely, mercantilism. If you have any questions, leave them below and Heimler shall answer forthwithly.