Question

How did England try to control trade with its American colonies?

Answer 1

Hint: It was through the British economic policy, the American colonies were controlled in the matter of trade and commerce. Protectionist trade restrictions, subsidies to domestic industries and governmental regulations were enacted by the British.

Complete answer:
In the mid-1600s, England adopted the economic ideas of Mercantilism. Controlling trade, more export than import, using colonies as suppliers of raw materials, keeping gold and silver within the main country, and out-trading competing countries were the main premises of mercantilism.
In order to control trade with its American colonies and therefore to maintain mercantilism, England passed laws, acts, tariffs and taxes all intended to monopolize trade and to control the American colonies.
In 1651, the British Parliament adopted a series of legislation known as the Navigation Acts, for the purpose of preventing the North American colonies from trading with other European countries and also from developing a strong manufacturing industry. This was effective in preventing the colonies from trading with others. The colonies were forced to trade only with England and also the colonies were to provide raw materials as well as a market for the manufactured products of England.
England was able to set value for its manufactured products, setting a higher cost than what the American colonies might have been able to get from other countries. The tariffs and taxes of England ensured that the cost of manufactured goods from the colonies could not compete with the cost of manufactured goods made in England.
Thus it was through these acts and laws, England tried to control trade with its American colonies.

Note: Navigation Acts imposed hardships on people of American colonial society and many people who were directly affected by the impositions of England responded to the acts with hostility. The implementation of the Navigation Acts resulted in the rise of anti-British sentiments and also to the final outbreak of the American Revolution.