ANSWER: During the colonial period, the price of goods that the colonists imported increased significantly due to the mercantilist policies implemented by England. England aimed to increase its wealth by requiring the colonies to purchase their goods and raw materials only from the mother country, while forcing them to sell their own goods exclusively to England. This led to high prices for imported goods as there was no competition to drive prices lower.
In response to mercantilism and the high prices of imported goods, the colonists took various actions. One such action was smuggling goods from other countries such as the Dutch, who openly traded with the colonies. This allowed the colonists to get the goods they needed at cheaper prices without having to adhere to England's strict trade policies.
The colonists also engaged in protests against England's mercantilist policies, leading to events such as the Boston Tea Party in 1773, where colonists dumped tea into the Boston Harbor in response to high taxes on tea imports. These protests eventually led to the American Revolution and the establishment of the United States as an independent nation, no longer subjected to the economic restrictions of England's mercantilist policies.