Advanced Placement (AP) European History Practice Exam

The chosen answer highlights a historical trend where the percentage of English trade with Atlantic ports increased over time, particularly in the context of the 16th to 18th centuries. During this period, England began to establish itself as a significant maritime power, expanding its commercial reach across the Atlantic. This expansion facilitated greater importation of goods, such as sugar, tobacco, and rum from the American colonies, alongside exports like woolen cloth, which boosted the overall volume of trade with Atlantic ports.

The rise in imports was also a reflection of the mercantilist policies that encouraged colonization and the establishment of trade networks that linked England with its colonies in the Americas and the West Indies, thus increasing trade activity. As a result, this shift played a key role in the development of England's economy and its global trading influence, marking a significant change in the percentage of trade with Atlantic ports.