Patriots felt that separation of Great Britain would positively benefit the economy, as the colonists would then be able to trade with the country who would give them the best deal rather than being forced to trade/buy manufactured goods from England.
Before the American Revolution, the American colonists were forced to trade with Great Britain due to the mercantilist system established throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. However, colonists also ignored this system and sometimes traded with other European nations. When trading with these nations, the colonists realized that they could sell their goods for a greater profit and buy manufactured goods for cheaper from other countries.
