Define the following terms: Mercantilism: First Greal Awakening: Salutary Neglect:

Mercantilism: Mercantilism is an economic theory and practice that was dominant in Europe during the 16th to the 18th century. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive balance of trade, where a country exports more than it imports, and accumulating precious metals such as gold and silver. Mercantilists believed that the wealth of a nation was measured by the amount of gold and silver it possessed. To achieve this, countries implemented policies to promote exports, restrict imports, and establish colonies to provide raw materials and markets for their goods.<br /><br />First Great Awakening: The First Great Awakening was a series of religious revivals that swept through the American colonies in the 1730s and 1740s. It was characterized by a renewed emphasis on personal faith, emotional involvement in religious practices, and the questioning of established church authority. The movement was led by preachers such as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, who traveled extensively to deliver sermons and inspire religious fervor among the colonists. The First Great Awakening played a significant role in shaping the religious and social landscape of early America.<br /><br />Salutary Neglect: Salutary neglect refers to the British policy of loosely enforcing colonial laws and allowing the American colonies a degree of self-governance during the 17th and early 18th centuries. This policy was driven by the practical need for the British government to focus on its own affairs and conflicts in Europe, as well as the belief that the colonies were not yet economically or politically significant enough to warrant strict oversight. As a result, the colonies developed their own political institutions, economies, and social structures, which laid the foundation for their eventual independence.