Country would sell their manufactured goods back to the colonies and around the world. This is not fully a disadvantage for the colonies. For a long time their populations were small and it was cheaper and easier for them to import most of their goods. However, Britain's monopoly of raw materials was not always favorable towards the colonists. Perhaps the Portuguese or French were offering a better price on lumber or tobacco. How many colonists would actually refuse a foreign offer because England wouldn't make as much of a profit off of them? Also, as the colonial populations grew, it became wiser for them to start manufacturing more of their own goods. New England became an esteemed ship building center that rivaled or surpassed Britain's. England repeatedly resisted manufacturing in the colonies. They even went as far as to pass laws such as the Wool Act of 1699, the Hat Act of 1732, and the Iron Act of 1750. These laws prevented the exportation of some textiles and all hats, and forbade the building of any new factories that produced iron products. This was done purely for English prosperity without regard to colonial welfare. If the colonists started making their own things, and did not export as much to England, they would become much more wealthy while England would be cut off from the money. The French and Indian War was another long term cause. Immediately after the war, colonist support of England of very high. Britain had just defeated the French and any colonist fears of the French taking Ohio from the American settlers. They also had for the most part surpressed the Indians. Colonists became less dependant on England because they no longer were threatened by any other countries except England itself. However, good opinions were soon changed. England continued to maintain an army in America, further increasing England's debt. The colonies wondered why the army remained if it was costing so much when all they danger was pa...
