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Historians generally view the mercantilist system as one of the causes of the American Revolution because it demonstrated that-

A) The colonies would never be profitable to the mother country
B)The mother country and the colonists had different views regarding colonial trade
C) The colonies could not be successiully defended from the French
D) Britain's earliest Navigation Acts were impossible to enforce​

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The mercantilist system contributed to the American Revolution by demonstrating that Britain and the colonists had conflicting views on trade, leading to colonial discontent and a desire for independence.

Step-by-step explanation:

Historians generally view the mercantilist system as one of the causes of the American Revolution because it displayed that the mother country and the colonists had different views regarding colonial trade. The British imposed mercantilist policies to secure economic dominance, which included the Navigation Acts that restricted colonial trade to benefit the mother country. Although this arrangement provided economic growth and a decent standard of living for the colonists, the strict control and limited trade options eventually led to tension and a desire for autonomy. Colonists initially abided by these trade restrictions because they were profitable, not out of coercion. However, the Navigation Acts ultimately demonstrated to the colonists their lack of freedom to conduct trade as they saw fit, contributing to the rising dissatisfaction that sparked the revolution.

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