What was a nation's ultimate goal under mercantilism and how did great Britain strive to achieve this goal?

Under mercantilism, a nation's ultimate goal was to accumulate wealth, primarily in the form of gold and silver, and to achieve a favorable balance of trade by exporting more than it imported. Great Britain strived to achieve this goal by establishing colonies that would provide raw materials and serve as markets for British manufactured goods, thereby controlling trade routes and limiting foreign competition. Additionally, through the Navigation Acts, Britain enforced regulations that ensured colonial trade benefited the mother country, fostering economic dependency and maximizing profits.