Mercantilism and the Colonial World

Discover how mercantilism influenced the development of colonies in North America.

Objectives 

• Students will consider the definition of mercantilism. 
• Students will investigate connections between mercantilism and Atlantic triangular trade. 
• Students will describe the impacts that the policy of mercantilism had on the American colonies. 

Student Resources: 

•  Mercantilism and the Triangle Trade Essay  
• The Mercantilist Argument for Colonial Expansion Political Cartoon 

Mercantilism: An economic system used in Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries that was based on precious metals as the form of wealth for a country and featured colonies to support the economy of the mother-country.