Irish-American Trade, 1660–1783

This book assaults well-established myths depicting Ireland's transatlantic trade as subordinate to British interests.

Thomas M. Truxes (Author)

9780521526166, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 7 June 2004

464 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.8 cm, 0.725 kg

An important contribution to both the new history of colonial British America and revisionist Irish economic and social history, this book assaults well established myths depicting Irish involvement in transatlantic trade as subordinate to narrow British interests. Ireland's vigorous trade with British America was essentially inter-colonial commerce, contributing to commercial development at home, the West Indian islands, and the North American mainland. In colonial ports from Philadelphia to Bridgetown, Barbados, overseas Irish merchant communities managed a trade that took its lead from entrepreneurs in Dublin, Cork, and Belfast with ties to Irish agriculture and manufacturing. As well as commodities and the men who moved them, the book examines the formation of Irish-colonial trade, its place in the mercantilist framework, the structure and financing of trade, the relationship between transatlantic trade and emigration, and the impact of the American Revolution on the commercial relationship between Ireland and America.

List of illustrations
List of tables
Preface
Introduction
1. Trade before 1731
2. Irish-American trade, 1731–1775
3. Balance of payments and financial structure
4. Irish merchants and ports
5. West Indian merchants and ports
6. North American merchants and ports
7. The emigrant trade
8. Provisions
9. Linen
10. Flaxseed
11. Other colonial exports
12. Trade and revolution
Conclusion
Appendices
Notes
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH], History of the Americas [HBJK]