"Ninth: except for important considerations, no importation should be allowed under any circumstances of commodities of which there is a sufficient supply of suitable quality at home; and in this matter neither sympathy nor compassion should be shown foreigners, be they friends, kinsfolk, allies, or enemies... And this holds good, even if the domestic commodities are of poorer quality, or even higher priced. For it would be better to pay for an article two dollars which remain in the country than only one which goes out, however strange this may seem to the ill-informed."

Question

"Ninth: except for important considerations, no importation should be allowed under any circumstances of commodities of which there is a sufficient supply of suitable quality at home; and in this matter neither sympathy nor compassion should be shown foreigners, be they friends, kinsfolk, allies, or enemies... And this holds good, even if the domestic commodities are of poorer quality, or even higher priced. For it would be better to pay for an article two dollars which remain in the country than only one which goes out, however strange this may seem to the ill-informed."

- Excerpt from "Nine Principal Rules of National Economy," by Philip Wilhelm von Hornick (c. 1684)

Based on the above passage, what impact would mercantilism have on the British colonies and why?

Answer 1

Mercantilism, as reflected in the above passage by von Hornick, would have a significant impact on the British colonies. Under mercantilist principles, colonies were seen as valuable sources of raw materials and markets for the home country. This passage suggests a strong protectionist stance, emphasizing the importance of domestic production and discouraging imports even if they are of better quality or lower price.

For the British colonies, this would mean that they would be primarily used as suppliers of raw materials, such as timber, tobacco, or agricultural products, which would be sent back to Britain. The colonies would be discouraged from developing their own industries or producing manufactured goods that could compete with British products.

This mercantilist policy would limit the economic autonomy and growth potential of the British colonies, as they would be dependent on Britain for manufactured goods and discouraged from pursuing diverse economic activities. The colonies would essentially function as an economic extension of the home country, supplying resources and serving as markets, while British goods would dominate their economies.

Overall, the impact of mercantilism on the British colonies would be a suppression of their economic development and a reinforcement of their status as subordinate parts of the British Empire.