Final answer:
Mercantilism played a role in the discord as the British tied the colonies to the mother country through trade policies and attempted to extend political control. These policies restricted economic development and led to conflict with colonists who believed in their political rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mercantilism played a significant role in the discord between the British authorities and the American colonies. The British adopted mercantilist policies to tie the colonies to the mother country and increase their wealth. Through the Navigation Acts, the British pushed the colonies into a trade network where they produced raw materials for British industry and exchanged them for manufactured goods.
However, these policies restricted the economic development of the colonies and caused unrest. The colonies were forced to sell their goods exclusively to England and were prohibited from trading with other merchants who might pay more. Additionally, the British attempted to extend their political control over the colonies, which led to conflict with the colonists who believed they had certain political rights.