Navigation act study Flashcards
What were the Navigation Acts?
The Navigation Acts were a series of British laws passed in the 17th and 18th centuries to regulate colonial trade and ensure that trade benefited England.
When were the first Navigation Acts passed?
The first Navigation Act was passed in 1651 under the rule of Oliver Cromwell, with additional acts passed in the 1660s under King Charles II.
What was the primary purpose of the Navigation Acts?
To promote British economic interests by restricting colonial trade, ensuring that only English or colonial ships could transport goods to and from the colonies.
What goods were most affected by the Navigation Acts?
Goods like tobacco, sugar, cotton, and other valuable raw materials were required to be shipped only to England or other English colonies.
How did the Navigation Acts benefit England?
The acts ensured that England had a monopoly on colonial trade, kept profits within the British Empire, and helped build up the British merchant and naval fleet.
What was “enumerated” in the context of the Navigation Acts?
Certain valuable colonial goods, known as “enumerated goods,” could only be exported to England or other English colonies, restricting trade with other countries.
How did the Navigation Acts impact the American colonies?
They limited colonial trade options, lowered profits for colonial merchants, and created resentment towards British control over economic affairs.
What is mercantilism, and how does it relate to the Navigation Acts?
Mercantilism is an economic policy that emphasizes exporting more than importing to increase wealth. The Navigation Acts were part of Britain’s mercantilist policies to enrich the mother country.
How did some colonial merchants respond to the Navigation Acts?
Many colonial merchants responded by smuggling goods to avoid the restrictions, trading with other countries illegally.
How did the Navigation Acts contribute to the American Revolution?
The restrictions and economic losses due to the Navigation Acts increased colonial resentment toward British rule, contributing to the desire for independence.
Were the Navigation Acts strictly enforced?
Enforcement was inconsistent at first, but Britain began stricter enforcement in the 1760s, which further angered the colonies.
What was the significance of the Navigation Acts?
The Navigation Acts shaped colonial trade, contributed to the development of colonial resentment, and set the stage for later conflicts between Britain and the American colonies.
