What economic principle is exemplified by the Triangle Trade?

The Triangle Trade exemplifies mercantilism, which was a dominant economic theory in Europe from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Mercantilism is characterized by government control over the economy, with a focus on accumulating wealth through trade, particularly by exporting more than importing. It involves the establishment of colonies to serve the economic interests of the parent country, ensuring that resources are extracted from the colonies and profits remain within the empire.

In the context of the Triangle Trade, this system involved the exchange of goods and enslaved people among Europe, Africa, and the Americas. European nations would export manufactured goods to Africa, where they exchanged these for enslaved individuals. The enslaved people were then transported to the Americas, where they were forced to work on plantations, producing raw materials that were sent back to Europe. This cycle enhanced the wealth of European nations at the expense of the colonies and, particularly, the enslaved populations.

Other economic principles like capitalism, socialism, and feudalism do not align with the characteristics of the Triangle Trade. Capitalism emphasizes private ownership and free markets, which were not the main features of the mercantilist system. Socialism focuses on collective or governmental ownership and the distribution of wealth, which contrasts sharply with