Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

The correct answer highlights a significant aspect of the Navigation Acts, which were a series of laws enacted by the English Parliament in the mid-17th century. These acts aimed to assert control over colonial trade and ensure that economic benefits flowed back to England. The primary restriction imposed was that colonial merchants could only export certain products directly to England. This restriction effectively limited the colonies' ability to trade freely with other nations, as they were required to funnel their goods through English ports, which allowed the British government to regulate and tax colonial exports.

This policy was motivated by mercantilist principles, which held that wealth was finite and that countries should export more than they import to build their economic strength. By mandating that colonial exports had to go to England, the Navigation Acts not only restricted merchants' trading options but also guaranteed that England benefited economically from the colonies. Consequently, the mercantile system established a dependency of the colonies on England for market access, which formed a critical component of the economic relationship between England and its colonies.