American Revolution was an Economic Revolt against Mercantilism: Evidences

American Revolution as an economic revolt

The idea that the American Revolution was an economic revolt against mercantilism is supported by several pieces of evidence:

American Revolution 

1. **Navigation Acts and Mercantilist Policies**:

 The British Navigation Acts and other mercantilist policies imposed strict regulations on colonial trade. These policies aimed to ensure that colonial goods were primarily exported to Britain and that British merchants profited from colonial trade. These regulations limited the economic opportunities of the American colonies.

2. **Taxation without Representation**:

 The famous slogan "No Taxation Without Representation" reflects the economic grievances of the colonists. The British government imposed taxes on various goods and activities in the colonies, such as the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act, without giving the colonists a voice in how these taxes were levied or spent. This economic burden without representation fueled colonial resentment.

3. **Smuggling and Black Market Trade**: 

The colonists often engaged in smuggling and black-market trade to evade British restrictions and taxes. This clandestine economic activity demonstrated their desire for economic independence and a willingness to subvert mercantilist policies.

4. **Boycotts and Economic Non-Cooperation**:

 The colonists organized economic boycotts of British goods. These actions were driven by economic motives and aimed to disrupt British control over American trade.

5. **Formation of Continental Congress**:

 The First Continental Congress in 1774 was partially an economic response to British policies. Delegates discussed economic grievances and trade issues, highlighting the economic dimension of their resistance.

6. **Support for Free Trade Ideas**:

 Influential thinkers like Adam Smith, whose book "The Wealth of Nations" was published in 1776, advocated for free trade and criticized mercantilism. The ideas of economic freedom and self-determination gained traction during this period.

While the American Revolution encompassed political and social factors as well, these pieces of evidence illustrate that economic concerns and opposition to mercantilism played a significant role in motivating the colonists to seek independence from British rule.