The Effect of Mercantilism on the American Revolution
American mercantilism was an economic policy designed to enrich Britain by restricting colonial trade and production. By forcing the colonies to export through Britain and imposing taxes such as the Sugar, Stamp, and Tea Acts, the British government prioritized profit over fairness. This exploitation fostered resentment among colonists and fueled revolutionary sentiment. Critics like Adam Smith argued that free trade and economic independence were the true sources of national wealth, a view that ultimately inspired America’s break from Britain.
References
Boudreaux, Donald. “Adam Smith and Mercantilism.” Medium, 2021. Web.
Kelly, Martin. “Mercantilism and its Effect on Colonial America.” ThoughtCo, 2019. Web.
Kiger, Patrick. “7 Events that Enraged Colonists and Led to the American Revolution.” History, 2020. Web.
Rust, Randal. “Mercantilism.” American History Central, 2022. Web.
Scott, Carole. “Mercantilism and the American Revolution.” Freepages, 1997. Web.
Reference
StudyCorgi. (2025, October 4). The Effect of Mercantilism on the American Revolution. https://studycorgi.video/the-effect-of-mercantilism-on-the-american-revolution/