Is Capitalism Good for the United States? Before capitalism was the prominent economic system in the United States, the colonists were accustomed to a system known as, Mercantilism. According to Edward W. Ryan, author of In the Words of Adam Smith, “the goal of Mercantilism was to build up the economic power of a nation and thereby enhance its military and economic prowess.” Mercantilists sought this economic power through powerful government involvement in the economy and the discouragement of imports while strongly pushing for exports (Ryan 5-7). The problem with the mercantilist economy was that the government was too controlling, especially in regard to colonialism. Colonists were required to purchase goods provided solely by the “Mother