According to the economic theory known as mercantilism, ( a) England wanted the right to sell goods in France, but only to non-Catholic buyers. ( b) the government should encourage manufacturing and commerce by keeping its hands off the economy. ) colonies existed as a place for the mother country to send raw materials to be turned into manufactured goods. ( d) merchants should control the government because they contribute more than others to national wealth. O e) the government should regulate economic activity so as to promote national power