Final answer:
British settlers in Georgia initially viewed Britain's mercantilist policies favorably because they provided economic benefits and a stable trade network. However, as restrictions increased and political control intensified, settlers' views shifted towards discontent.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the colonial period in Georgia, Britain's mercantilist policies were initially seen as beneficial by British settlers. Under mercantilism, the mother country, Britain, sought to increase its wealth by controlling trade and ensuring that the colonies like Georgia contributed to this wealth accumulation. Colonies such as Georgia were expected to produce raw materials and trade them exclusively with Britain, in turn receiving manufactured goods. This trade framework set by a series of Navigation Acts was designed to create a favorable balance of trade and increase the standards of living in both the colonies and the mother country.
These economic policies were typically embraced by settlers at first because they provided a reliable market for their goods and facilitated economic growth. However, as the British government attempted to extend greater political control and enforce trade restrictions, settlers' initial positive perceptions began to change. The system that once appeared mutually beneficial created discontent, and the desire for political rights and greater say in the governmental process grew among the colonists.
Overall, colonial Georgia's economy adapted to the mercantilist framework by eventually finding profitability in commodities suitable to its geography such as cattle, timber, and Indian trade, instead of the unsuccessful luxury industries initially planned by the colony's founders.