It wasn’t.
With rare exception, colonies were unprofitable, meaning more was spent building infrastructure like roads, railways, buildings, etc. than was exported.
And look at places like Singapore and Hong Kong. Both were colonies for a long time and yet they are extremely prosperous.
@BasedMikeLee@Portland_Sucks_ Is this “prophet” Joseph Smith the same man who was killed in a gunfight at Carthage Jail while awaiting trial on treason charges—after he & his corrupt LDS city council ordered the destruction of a newspaper that was criticizing him?