Final answer:
The two main purposes of British colonies under mercantilism were economic self-sufficiency and resource extraction. The Navigation Acts restricted colonial trade to benefit Great Britain by securing raw materials and guaranteeing markets for its goods, which led to discontent and the pursuit of political freedom by the colonies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under the mercantilist system, British colonialism aimed primarily for economic self-sufficiency and resource extraction. This economic policy dictated that colonies existed to benefit the mother country, Great Britain, by providing raw materials and serving as markets for finished goods. As a result, two main purposes of British colonies under mercantilism were a) Economic self-sufficiency and resource extraction.
Through a series of Navigation Acts, Great Britain established a trade network that restricted the colonies to trading primarily with the mother country. This promoted British industry by guaranteeing a supply of raw materials from the colonies, and in return, colonial markets bought British manufactured goods. The system was designed to prevent the colonies from establishing economic independence and competing with British trade. Over time, this framework would contribute to the eventual discontent that led to the American Revolution, as the colonies grew tired of economic exploitation and sought political freedom.