Mercantilism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Mercantilism - Essay ExampleAll the countries that practiced mercantilism had unriv solely toldedeconomicmotivationwhich was the consolidation of power centers in that region.Spainwas not left wingbehind,and it made sure all its colonies in the Caribbeanwere rigidly controlledto protect thecommerceand industry of her empire.First, they barred foreign ships from accessing her colonial ports in the Caribbean. Second, she intentional the coloniesto economically complementto Spain, and forbadecertaincolonies tomanufactureso as toleavetheirmarketopen for imports. Finally, she channeled all colonialtradethrough one port so that she got all the benefits (Magnusson, 1996).The main positive prospect of mercantilism was thecreationof wealth for themerchants andrulersof the countries involved. Another positive aspect is that this system provided the greatest inspiration to the exploitationof economics as a scientific division. The local inhabitants of these colonies were the ones who bore most of the negative aspects of mercantilism. First the localswere useto thecorewhereby they either became slaves, or bonded laborers. Second, the economic status of these colonies weakened a lot, and the local peoplewere lefthighlydemoralized (Magnusson,