PS4700 American Political Thought Practice Test

Mercantilism centers on using government power to grow national wealth and power, rather than individual freedom or free-market principles. It aims to maximize exports, minimize imports, and accumulate precious metals through state-controlled policies like tariffs, subsidies, and trade restrictions. That focus on strengthening the nation’s economy and standing abroad is exactly what economic nationalism is all about—the idea that economic policy should serve the nation’s interests and sovereignty. The other options don’t fit as neatly. Ward Democracy refers to urban political machines and party control at the city level, not a doctrine about how the economy should be organized. The Divine Right of Kings deals with royal legitimacy, not economic policy. And the choice that names mercantilism itself doesn’t capture the broader ideological stance; the best fit among the ideas provided is economic nationalism.