Mercantilism?

[Knowledge 6 6 6]

So yeah,

Mercantilism, from what I've been told is basically European countries' plight to become economically independent and self-sufficient. Out of this, bred capitalism.

So why did countries want to be self-sufficient ? And what came before mercantilism in the european nations?

[percept¡on]

Mercantilism was the intermediate phase between feudalism and capitalism. It is characterized by government-sponsored monopolies in major industries; companies/corporations needed government charters to operate, but were given exclusive rights to their industry in a given market. Perfect example is the British/Dutch East Indies Companies.

[Jesus Christ]

Mercantilism is an ethnocentric economic policy that a colony exists only to benefit the mother country and that a nations prosperity depended on its supply of precious metals
mercantilism died out due to the fact that absolutely no colony could survive and prosper while the mother country exploited it dry

[ComradeRed]

So why did countries want to be self-sufficient? Well, there are a number of reasons why. Let me use Modern Japan as an example, they were deeply affected by the great deppression. They thought of the West as "weak" for having a serious recession, and vowed to become self sufficient. Likewise, European nations didn't want to rely on each other, but on themselves.

[percept¡on]

Originally posted by [email protected] 12 2004, 07:47 PM
Well, there are a number of reasons why. Let me use Modern Japan as an example, they were deeply affected by the great deppression. They thought of the West as "weak" for having a serious recession, and vowed to become self sufficient. Likewise, European nations didn't want to rely on each other, but on themselves.
Speaking of Japan, it is as close to an example of neo-mercantilism as I've seen.

[Umoja]

Originally posted by Knowledge 6 6 [email protected] 12 2004, 01:48 PM
So yeah,

Mercantilism, from what I've been told is basically European countries' plight to become economically independent and self-sufficient. Out of this, bred capitalism.

So why did countries want to be self-sufficient ? And what came before mercantilism in the european nations?
Mercantalism is protected trading. You create your own colonies and use them for the purpose of trade. It allows independence from other nations, and gives an additional source of materials and revenue (via taxes).

The most common example of Mercantalism are the 13 British Colonies. If you have the basic understanding of American history you will know that the Townshend Acts (which I believe were known as "the Intolerable Acts") were part of the reason the United States broke off from England. Thank you USAP.

[Don't Change Your Name]

According to many "laissez-faire" advocates, we all still live in mercantilism.

It's "nation-oriented" capitalism if you ask me.

[Wiesty]

could be for definace, or if they have enough resources, they might not need allies, or like for say the world turns to nazism, and canada eh dosent wana join they're alliance they would have to find ways to support them selves, either making ww3 or a famine