They wanted to expand their empires and nations by acquiring more land. They wanted to kidnap the Natives and force them into slavery.... yeet
The citizens of the United States
Answer: Adam Smith
Scottish philosopher Adam Smith (1723-1790) was strongly critical of the economic system that prevailed in his era. Smith criticized what he called the "mercantile system" because it restricted trade and thus restricted economic growth. The mercantile system believed the wealth of the world was a fixed amount, measured primarily in gold and silver accumulated. The system promoted a nation selling its products abroad but not needing to buy from others, or imposing heavy tariffs if importing anything. Colonies were created to provide raw materials and resources to the mother country and a market for the mother country's products. Commerce was heavily controlled by the government through charters granted to specific trading companies.
Adam Smith countered by advocating a free market -- the opportunity individual businessmen and for all nations to increase their wealth by exchanging goods freely with one another according to what would become known as capitalist principles. We also speak of <em>"laissez-faire"</em> ("let go") as a term for this sort of free-market economy, set free from government controls. This term came from a French group of thinkers called the Physiocrats (meaning "rule by nature') who were working during the same 18th century era as Smith. The Physiocrats and Smith were in agreement about getting government out of the business of controlling business.
On June 17, 1775, early in the Revolutionary War (1775-83), the British defeated the Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Massachusetts. Despite their loss, the inexperienced colonial forces inflicted significant casualties against the enemy, and the battle provided them with an important confidence boost.
