:) how did the economy of the american colonies affect enslaved workers from africa? enslaved workers from africa were sent to the middle colonies to work in the mines digging for coal. enslaved workers from africa were brought to new england to do the dangerous jobs of fishing and whaling. few enslaved workers from africa were needed in the south because the growth of cash crops was limited. the number of enslaved workers from africa increased in the south because they were needed to grow labor-intensive crops. how did the navigation acts set limits on colonial exports? goods had to be shipped to british ports before being sold to other countries. ships from other countries could only deliver limited goods to the colonies. the colonies were taxed on items they received from other countries. the colonies were not allowed to ship any goods to britain.