England used the policies of <u>mercantilism </u>to maintain control in the colonies. The <u>central government administered its possessions for the economic benefit of the mother country. </u>
Explanation:
Despite England didn't control its colonies like Portugal and Spain, the British Crown used the same polices as the Iberian Empires. Mercantilism is a mix of economical ideas and practices such as tax collection over exportation and importation, among other policies in order to maintain the control and to let the colonies know that England was close and operating. To work properly, Mercantilism should have an administrator in the colonies chosen by the Mother Country. That's the way England knew what was happening there.