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Debt Peonage
The idea that a someone who owned farming lands to those who owe him a debt and rarely paid him was the new form of serfdom in Europe. This new idea brought about social injustice of the time, as those who owed a man a debt could rarely pay him back due to the little rates they were paid. This mainly affected those in the slowest class. Although they were not slaves as they were compensated, this system made it highly improbable to get out of this line of work due to their social standing. -
The Agricultural Revolution
The Agricultural Revolution was a period of time from the 17th century until the 19th century, where European farmers harnessed new technology in order to make yielding crops more efficient. This not only benefitted the economy and social aspects of Europe. Peasants who had been told by the elite to work the lands were able to grow crops at a more efficient rate and earn money to buy their crops to avoid working for nobility. There was little idle in the field, productivity greatly increased. -
The Transatlantic Slave Trade
The trade of slaves and the raw goods which came from them was known as the Transatlantic Slave trade. This exchange of goods and human beings between Europe and North America greatly benefited the European economy. Newly found crops in America and the mass production of such encouraged this practice of slavery well beyond the 18th century. Europes economy was thriving due to this method of transporting slaves across the ocean on slave ships, giving Europe free labor for their goods. -
Rapid Population Growth
Rapid population growth in Europe began during mid-18th century. This was caused by the declining number of deaths in Europe. This can be attributed to the scientific revolution, which invented new technology and medicinal practices. This was beneficial to both the economic and social aspects of European society. In the economy, there was a larger workforce whether they were farmers or merchants. Socially, there were more people with different ideas on how they would like to live their lives. -
Seven Years' War
This war which was known as a world war between the French within the North Americas. The French wanted to increase their economic standing by the trade of furs. These furs were found in North America, and the French established a deal with Native American tribes to ensure their claim to these furs. This new item for sale granted French economic prosperity and introduced overseas trade for many European countries with the newly discovered Americas. -
The Social Contract
This publication by Rousseau promoted the agreement between a person and a society when the person enters into this society. Rousseau encourages the public to oblige to what is in the best interest of society and how to best benefit the society. This revolutionized how the public viewed themselves and the government no matter what European country they lived in. The social implications of this helped define what it meant to be part of a society for some of the public. -
The Introduction of the Putting-Out System
This new system introduced worked to save money for the merchants of the era and to increase the use of the cottage industry. The objective was for merchants to loan raw materials to those working in the cottage industry to make products in home and then return them to the merchants to sell. This benefitting both the cottage worker as well as the merchant. This made is cheaper to make goods as a whole and influenced a capital type of government in Europe, specifically France. -
Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations
This publication by philosopher Adam Smith encouraged freedom of enterprise in the economy, instead of a monopoly of one corporation. Smith argued that the government should not have as big of a factor in economics. He felt as though that there should be free competition. Businesses and merchants should compete within each other to maintain a thriving economy, and this revolutionized economics of Europe into a more capitalist system. -
Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts were passed by Oliver Cromwell in 1651 were not modified to what they were until the 18th century. The act was that goods being imported to England and Scotland had to be transported on English vessels with an English crew on board. This mainly impacted the economy, as this gave English ships and mercantilist a complete grasp on the market of trade. This rarely let countries but England and Scotland benefit, as they could not profit from trade with these two nations. -
Idea of Creoles and Mestizo
The idea of the creoles, people who were born from parents who were Spanish in America, offered up a new aspect into social change. This changed the social climate, as they were respected in America for being European, yet they were not held I as high esteem in Europe. This group inspired other groups to become successful in the Americas, such as the mestizos. Mestizos were children born one Spanish parent and one Indian parent. This offered a question in Europe on how to treat these groups.
