Final answer:
England benefited the most from mercantilism by securing a favorable balance of trade that increased its wealth. While some colonial merchants and farmers also profited, the restrictive trade policies eventually led to discontent and the desire for economic independence in the colonies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Who Benefited More from Mercantilism: The 13 Colonies or England?
The one that benefited the most from mercantilism between the 13 colonies and England was clearly England. During the 17th and 18th centuries, England adopted mercantilist policies to maximize the wealth and power of the nation. Under mercantilism, the colonies were expected to produce raw materials at low costs and purchase manufactured goods at high prices from England. This created a favorable balance of trade for England, allowing them to accumulate precious gold and silver in their treasury and enhance their industrial growth.
Through the Navigation Acts, England controlled colonial trade, ensuring that colonies could sell their goods exclusively to England, which benefited British merchants and manufacturers. In return, while some colonial farmers and shippers profited by engaging in this restrictive trade, the overall infrastructure of the colonies was heavily reliant on England's economy. The ascent of Britain as a dominant world power was largely supported by the wealth extracted from its colonies and the imbalance of trade that mercantilism created.
There were also indirect benefits for colonial farmers, as the mercantilist economy allowed them to profit by servicing local markets with goods that did not compete with English trade. However, over time, the mercantilist system planted seeds of discontent, as the large volume of trade brought benefits to Britain, while increasing the desire for economic independence among the colonists. This eventually led to tensions that contributed to the American Revolutionary War.