Final answer:
Mercantilism was an economic policy adopted by the British during the colonial period. It aimed to tie the colonies to the mother country and increase the empire's wealth. Many colonists were upset by mercantilism due to its restrictions on trade and measures to exert political control.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mercantilism was an economic policy adopted by the British during the colonial period. It aimed to tie the colonies to the mother country and increase the empire's wealth. Under mercantilism, the colonies provided raw materials to the mother country and purchased finished goods manufactured there. This trade network benefited both the British and the colonists as it led to economic growth and improved living standards.
However, many colonists were upset by mercantilism for several reasons. First, they felt it restricted their economic freedom and prevented them from trading with other countries. Second, they believed that the British policies favored the interests of the mother country at the expense of the colonies. Third, the colonists objected to the attempts by the British government to extend its political control over them, which they saw as a violation of their rights.