There were myriad differences between Great Britain and its American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries, but these differences can be divided into three basic categories: Economic , social and political. The original American settlers came to the colonies for various reasons, but one common trait among these settlers was that they still considered themselves British subjects. However, as time passed, the colonists were disenfranchised by England. Separated from the king by three thousand miles and living in a primitive environment where obtaining basic necessities was a struggle, pragmatism became the common thread throughout daily life in the colonies. It was this pragmatism that led the colonists to create their own society with a unique culture and economic and political system. One aspect of this unique system involved the many economic differences between England and the colonies. The English government adhered to the economic theory of mercantilism, which required that the individual subordinate his economic activity to the interests of the state (Text, 49). In order to promote mercantilism throughout its colonies, Great Britain passed the Navigation Acts in 1651, which controlled the production of British estates through subsidies. Under the Navigation Acts, each company was allocated a product and the Crown dictated the quantity to be produced. The West Indies, for example, was given sugar production and any other sugar-exporting colonies would face severe sanctions (Text, 50). This was done to ensure the economic prosperity of King Charles II, but it also served to limit economic freedom. The geographic layout of the American colonies made mercantilism impractical there. The paper city... needs colonists, so the colonists began to gain confidence in a governmental system that did not rely on a king. This revolutionary political system that was not based on a king. king was just one of the differences between the American colonies and Great Britain. The pragmatism and diversity needed in the colonies encouraged the colonists to create an entirely new culture. People who began as citizens of their respective countries slowly created a new language and a new society with a self-regulating economy. This new society would eventually become the United States of America. Works Cited Lukes, Bonnie L. The American Revolution. San Diego, CA: Lucent, 1996. Print. Schweikart, Larry and Michael Allen. The history of the United States from a patriot: from Columbus's great discovery to the war on terrorism. New York, NY: Sentinel, 2007. Print.