Answer:
The British used their navy to prevent trade between France and the American colonies.
Explanation:
The American colonies had been trading with France and England prior to the war. Trading with France was a violation of the Navigation Acts. To force the colonies to follow the acts and prevent them from gaining resources from other countries, the British navy shut down trans-Atlantic shipping. The boycott upset trade in the New England colonies in particular.
Credit to: MsEleanor
