Final answer:
British colonialism was driven by the economic policy of mercantilism, aimed at enriching the mother country through the exploitation of colonies for raw materials and markets for manufactured goods, facilitated by policies like the Navigation Acts.
Step-by-step explanation:
British colonialism was mostly driven by the economic concept of mercantilism, which prioritized the accumulation of wealth for the mother country through the control of trade and the exploitation of colonies for raw materials and markets for finished goods. The Navigation Acts and other policies were implemented to ensure that the colonies bolstered the British economy by supplying raw materials for the burgeoning industrial economy and in turn, buying manufactured goods from the mother country. This system of colonial administration was designed to maximize Britain's economic growth and maintain its political hegemony over its colonies and other European rivals. Colonialism also led to significant environmental damage, exploitation of native populations, and the forced labor of enslaved people, highlighting the darker aspects of the empire's expansion.