Colonial ascendancy 1660-1715

Establishing a colonial ascendancy in the period of 1660-1715 was an important process for both Britain and North America. During this time, England was able to assert its dominance over the colonies and become a major power worldwide. This process of establishing a colonial ascendancy was largely driven by economic interests as well as military force. One of the most significant developments during this period was the Navigation Acts which allowed England to control shipping between Europe and the American colonies (Canny, 2001). This allowed Britain to regulate trade coming into and out of their colonies while generating additional revenue through customs duties. This strategy effectively monopolized all coastal trade while also providing protectionist measures that benefited English merchants at the expense of other nations’ traders. In addition to these economic strategies, military force played an integral role in establishing British dominance over the colonies during this period (Hinderaker & Richter, 2015). The Royal Navy provided protection against outside threats while also maintaining order within British settlements throughout North America. Furthermore, England dispatched troops to quell any uprisings against their authority as necessary such as with Bacon’s Rebellion in Virginia in 1676 (Williams & Butterfield, 1970). Overall, it is clear that England successfully established a colonial ascendancy from 1660-1715 due mainly to their ability to use both economic and military measures concurrently. By controlling shipping and trade through enacting Navigation Acts alongside using naval power for defense purposes along with dispatching troops when needed allowed them to solidify their position in North America during this era and set themselves on course for becoming one of world’s major powers.