Evaluate+the+System+of+Mercantalism+and+determine+if+the+system+is+sustainable,+or+will+the+colonies+eventually+revolt+under+this+system.

The idea of mercantilism has both positive and negative aspects. Colonists were essentially pawns of England but at the same time they were rewarded with protection for their work. The system of mercantilism was idea that the colonists were growing weary of. In the minds of the colonists the bad aspects definitely outweighed the good ones. The colonies were Britain's main source of durable goods and so they felt that they were just being used for what they had. Britain's struggling economy lead to a series of taxes that further infuriated the colonists. England enforced these taxes to help restore their economy to where it once was. The Navigation Acts restricted American trade with other nations and made sure that England was receiving the durable goods. The Townshend Acts put taxes on basic necessities that colonists used in their everyday lives including: lead, paper, paint, glass, and tea. Another tax was the Stamp Act putting a direct tax on imports. As a result of these two acts, smuggling became more prevalent due to the reward of saving money. These continued efforts on punishing the colonists through taxes was the spark for what was to become the American Revolution. Based on the on feistiness of the colonists and their growing hatred to Great Britain the idea of mercantilism wasn't going to last long and will lead to revolts. The good aspects outweigh the bad on the American side. The taxes that were being placed upon them were unfair and unjust because England was punishing them for the debt that had been created from the French and Indian War. Revolts were inevitable and were the spark for the eventual succession from the motherland. An example of an colonists uprising would be the Boston Tea Party. Enraged at the new tax on their beloved tea, colonists proceeded to dumping 17 million tons of tea into the Boston Harbor to show their disgust. Another stand by the colonists on a tax enacted by England was in their use of smuggling goods which violated the Navigation Acts. The colonists saw that they weren't going to receive anything but protection and probably more taxes if they kept sending their goods to an unappreciative England. It was a low risk, high reward for the colonists. With this failed attempt at lassoing the colonies economy was the beginning of the end of European dominance in America.