Mercantilism was a political economic system that many European nations instituted in their American to maximize their profits. Which one of the following was a key element of merchantilism.

Number one coneys were permitted to trade freely with other European nations or, two colonies directly benefited from the wealth gained from trade or, 3 colonies were banned from free trade and supplied raw materials to their mother country or, four colonies produced finished goods using raw materials from Europe

The correct answer is: 3 colonies were banned from free trade and supplied raw materials to their mother country

The key element of mercantilism related to colonies was option number 3: colonies were banned from free trade and supplied raw materials to their mother country.