How did the colonies economically depend on Great Britain?

Answer 1

The colonies economically depended on Great Britain primarily through trade and the mercantilist system, which restricted colonial trade to British ships and mandated that certain goods, like tobacco and sugar, be exported exclusively to Britain. This arrangement ensured a steady market for colonial products while providing Britain access to raw materials for its industries. Additionally, British manufactured goods flooded the colonial markets, limiting local production and reinforcing economic reliance on British imports. This dependency fostered a trade imbalance that favored British economic interests over colonial autonomy.