How mercantilism affected colonial economies

Mercantilism led to the adoption of enormous trade restrictions, though, which stunted the growth and freedom of colonial business.

Mercantilism led to the adoption of enormous trade restrictions, though, which stunted the growth and freedom of colonial business. In the 1660s, for example, Great Britain passed the Navigation Acts. These were a series of laws designed to make American colonies more dependent on manufactured products from England.