Question

(C) Why were the British colonies oriented towards producing commodities for export to Europe?

A) To establish self-sufficiency in the colonies.
B) To meet the demands of the growing colonial population.
C) To generate revenue for the British Crown.
D) To encourage local trade and economic independence.

Answer 1

The British colonies produced commodities for export to support the mercantilist system's aim of increasing British wealth and power through a favorable balance of trade. Economic growth and consumerism also played a role in the colonies, but restrictive trade policies later fueled discontent.

Step-by-step explanation:

The British colonies were oriented towards producing commodities for export to Europe because this strategy was integral to the mercantilist system which aimed to generate revenue for the British Crown. Under this economic theory, colonies served as sources of raw materials needed for British industrial growth and as markets for finished goods produced in Britain, establishing a favorable balance of trade.

The Navigation Acts were passed to cement this relationship, ensuring that colonies could only trade with Britain, thereby increasing profits and the treasury of England. Additionally, colonial farmers and shippers prospered by engaging in this system, which enabled them to participate in the consumer revolution by purchasing goods that were once considered luxuries.

It was a system of controlled trade where the colonies' role was to support the economic interests of the mother country. While economic growth and lower tax rates provided American colonists a decent standard of living, the system also increased Britain's power and wealth. However, this dependence on the British market and the restrictive trade policies eventually contributed to colonial discontent leading up to the eighteenth century.