or their prosperity, and that of England's was the colonial trade, and the American privateer had effectively denied them of this. The merchants began to put pressure on Parliament to end the war. In fact, almost every motion put before Parliament to end the war with the colonies was supported by economic motives. Powerful merchants used their influence to cause dissent in the ranks of Parliament, and soon a strong movement advocated peace negotiations. The logic was that first, an end of hostilities would enable Britain to resume normal commercial relations with the rest of her colonial possessions. Second, American manufacturing capabilities would take years to develop, and England could profit to some extent from trade with the former colonies. The system of privateering had wreaked havoc upon the British economic system and helped the American rebels win the war for their independence. ...
