The revenue from sugar was immensely important to the economies of both Britain and France. Almost half of France’s foreign trade was generated in the West Indies, and a quarter of her merchant tonnage and a third of all her seaman relied on it.Howard p. 30 These issues were slightly less significant for Britain, whose dominions there employed an eighth of her merchant tonnage and generated 20% of her trade. Nevertheless, for either country, the loss of their islands would have created a serious financial problem.
