Mercantilism: How Colonies Served the Mother Country

Mercantilism was an economic theory prevalent during the colonial era, wherein colonies existed primarily to benefit the mother country through resource extraction and market expansion. Under this system, colonies were expected to supply raw materials, such as timber and tobacco, while serving as markets for finished goods produced in the mother country. This relationship fostered a dependency that limited colonial economic independence and often led to resentment among colonists. The mercantilist policies implemented by Britain, including the Navigation Acts, heightened tensions that would eventually contribute to the American Revolution.