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Mercantilism is a theory that justifies a mother country’s control over its colonies. This power has both distinct advantages and disadvantages. The land that rules the colonies can become much wealthier and more powerful a great deal more quickly. However, the colonies can feel like they are being taken advantage of and rebel; maybe even start their own country. The Navigation Laws were England’s way of making the most profit possible from their …

…in the North American colonies started with lax enforcement and evolved into harsh punishment for those unwilling to follow the British Parliament and King. The most famous of these was the Navigation Laws, passed in 1650, but poor enforcement was common until more than a century later, in 1763. While Mercantilism may have given the colonists direct benefits, it also drove them into a rebellious state that helped them separate from England and become their own country.