The navigation acts, or more broadly the acts of trade and navigation, was a long series of english laws that developed, promoted, and regulated english ships, shipping, trade, and commerce between other countries and with its own colonies. The navigation act of 1660 continued the policies set forth in the 1651 act and enumerated certain articlessugar, tobacco, cotton, wool, indigo, and gingerthat were to be shipped only to england or an english province. They governed ownership and crew nationality of vessels trading to britain and her colonies, and the acceptability of routes and commodities. What did king charles ii have to do with the navigation acts. The acts formed the basis for english overseas trade for nearly 200 years. Jul 27, 20 the navigation act 1663 was passed on the 27th of july, 1663 the earlier navigation act of 1660 replaced the navigation act of 1651 which was abrogated on the grounds of having been illegally enacted by oliver cromwells commonwealth. The acts were an outgrowth of mercantilism mercantilism, economic system of the major trading nations during the 16th, 17th, and 18th cent. Restoration navigation acts in 1660 the second navigation act was passed as an extension of the 1651 navigation act. The navigation acts and the american revolution oliver. The navigation acts 1660 and 1663 were directed against the dutch, still the most powerful commercial force in europe. Indeed, said charles ii in 1668, the thing that is nearest.
From the early part of the 17th century, the dutch had gradually achieved supremacy in shipping. An act for the encourageing and increasing of shipping and navigation. Navigation act of 1660 all colonial trade is on english ships, which now excluded the scots and included the colonies, but the master and three quarters of the crew had to be english. The first navigation act was passed in october 1651 by the parliament of the commonwealth of england led by oliver cromwell. To help pay the war debt created by the french and indian war, parliament british government decided to enforce the laws more so than it had in the past. Acts of trade and navigation navigation acts between 1651 and 1733 parliament passed a series of acts designed to regulate trade in colonial america. The navigation act 1660 and staple act 1663 required all european goods bound for america to be shipped through england or wales first. Information and translations of navigation acts in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web.
An act for removing and preventing all questions and disputes concerning the assembling and sitting of this present parliament. Many scholars, including adam smith, have viewed the navigation acts as a very beneficial example of state intervention. The navigation acts were a complex set of british laws dating from 1651 and 1660, regulating british and later imperial shipping and trade to foster economic and naval power see mercantilism. The navigation acts were passed under the economic theory of mercantilism under which wealth was to be increased by restricting trade to colonies rather than with free trade. The navigation acts 1651, 1660 were acts of parliament intended to promote the selfsufficiency of the british empire by restricting colonial trade to england and decreasing dependence on foreign imported goods. Learn navigation act 1660 with free interactive flashcards. It followed up the embargo with the navigation act of 1651, which.
The navigation acts while enriching britain, were a major source of tension in. For example, french goods could be imported on a french ship, or a british ship, but not a dutch ship. By the close of the seventeenth century, parliament had put other navigation acts in place and had installed colonial. Parliament enacted the first navigation act in 1660, although this legislation had its roots in earlier policy. Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone. Sep 08, 2009 the english navigation acts were a series of laws which, beginning in 1651, restricted foreign shipping. The trade and navigation acts were a series of measures enacted by the english parliament during the seventeenth and eighteenth century. Subsequent laws passed in 1651, 1660, and 1663 provided the basis of the navigation acts.
Beginning in 1650, parliament acted to combat the threat of the rapidly growing dutch carrying trade. The navigation acts were part of the british policy of mercantilism. Navigation act of 1763 colonial america the english navigation acts were a series of laws which restricted the use of foreign shipping for trade between england and its colonies. The navigation acts and colonial massachusetts industry loyola. The navigation acts entitled colonial shipping and seamen to enjoy the full benefits of the otherwise exclusively english provisions. The navigation acts refer to a large body of various pieces of legislation enacted between 1651 and 1663 although other acts that came under the purview of the navigation acts passed much longer. The navigation acts, or more broadly the acts of trade and navigation, was a long series of. The navigation act of 1651, aimed primarily at the dutch, required all trade between england and the colonies to be carried in english or colonial vessels. It was reaction to the failure of a diplomatic mission seeking recognition of the commonwealth by the republic of the seven united netherlands the 1651 act banned foreign ships from transporting goods from outside europe to england, and banned ships. The trade and navigation acts for apush simple, easy, direct. In effect, these acts created serious reductions in the trade of many north carolina planters and merchants. But in spite of all efforts the navigation acts could scarcely be enforced at all.
The english navigation acts were a series of laws that restricted the use of foreign shipping for trade between england after 1707 great britain and its colonies, a process which had started in 1651. A summary of the purpose and significance of the navigation acts. Navigation acts the 1663 navigation act aka the course hero. Their goal was to force colonial development into lines favourable to england, and stop direct colonial trade with the netherlands, france and other european countries.
The navigation act of 1651, aimed primarily at the dutch, required all trade between england and the colonies to be carried in english or colonial vessels, resulting in the anglo. The 1660 act is generally considered to be the basis of the navigation acts, which. For the increase of shiping and incouragement of the navigation of this nation, wherin under the good providence and protection of god the wealth safety and strength of this kingdome is soe much concerned bee it enacted. Later laws were passed in 1651, 1660, 1662, 1663, 1670 a. The navigation acts 1651, 1660 were acts of parliament intended to promote the selfsufficiency of the british empire by restricting colonial trade to england and decreasing dependence on. These acts were based on the idea that the colonies existed for the benefit of the mother country, and were a part of what was known as the mercantile or old colonial system. Navigation acts had their origin in britains regulation of its coastal trade, which was extended to the british colonies as they developed. Navigation acts university of texas at san antonio. The navigation act of 1660 61 restricted all colonial trade to english ships english and american, that is, ships built, owned, and manned by englishmen. The navigation acts had different impacts on trade in the colonies at different places and times.
Additionally the acts restricted the employment of nonenglish sailors to a quarter of the crew on returning east india company ships. Ships carrying imported goods to england or its colonies had to be englishbuilt and owned, or from the home country. European goods were to be shipped on either english vessels or the vessels of the exporting country. The new navigation acts drastically restricted and monopolized american colonial trade, to the detriment of the colonies. The act of 1651 established that goods from asia, africa, and america were to be shipped to england and her possessions only on english vessels. The navigation act 1663 was passed on the 27th of july, 1663 the earlier navigation act of 1660 replaced the navigation act of 1651 which was abrogated on the grounds of having been illegally enacted by oliver cromwells commonwealth. During the restoration area mercantilist economic and trade policy was widespread as it proved successful in undermining the dutch. Britain and publish a book of verse and subsequently wrote other. In 1645, a law forbade the importation of whale oil into england in vessels other than english, or in ships which were not manned by english sailors. Learning objective c british law stipulated that the american colonies could only trade with the mother country. Navigation acts synonyms, navigation acts pronunciation, navigation acts translation, english dictionary definition of navigation acts. In new legislation passed in 1660, 1662 and 1663 trade between england and her colonies was effectively limited to english or colonial shipping. They were a byproduct of the economic system of mercantilism designed to bolster the british economy by establishing a favorable balance of trade i.
The original ordinance of 1651 was renewed at the restoration by acts of 1660, 1663, 1670, and 1673, with subsequent minor amendments. In what ways did the navigation acts affect trade in. For the preventing all doubts and scruples concerning the assembling, sitting and proceeding, of this present parliament, be it declared and enacted, and it is declared and enacted by the king our soveraigne lord, and by the lords and. They came to the conclusion that in order to be a healthy nation their exports should exceed their imports and the balance should be invested in military strength. Navigation act of 1763 colonial america historyrocket.
Navigation acts the 1663 navigation act aka the staple act the navigation act of 1663 was also called the act for the encouragement of trade or the staple act. The acts eventually contributed to growing colonial resentment with the imposition of additional duties on sugar, tobacco, and molasses. The first british empire was built upon the concept of mercantilismthat the economic interests of the nation have priority over those of all other groups and areas and thus the periphery, or provinces, must profit the mother country. Navigation acts definition of navigation acts by the. The act declared the long parliament to be dissolved, and the lords and commons then sitting to be the two houses of parliament, notwithstanding that they had not been convened by the king since some doubts still existed as to the validity of the act, since the convention parliament had not. Navigation act 1660 flashcards and study sets quizlet. The navigation acts 1660 1764 1660 for the increase of shipping and encouragement of the navigation of this nation, wherein under the good providence and protection of god the wealth, safety and strength of this kingdom is so much concerned, be it enacted. The navigation act of 166061 restricted all colonial trade to english ships english and american, that is, ships built, owned, and manned by englishmen. The navigation acts 16601764 1660 for the increase of shipping and encouragement of the navigation of this nation, wherein under the good providence and protection of god the wealth, safety and strength of this kingdom is so much concerned, be it enacted.
It stipulated that goods could only enter england, ireland, or the colonies aboard english or english colonial ships. For much of colonial history, they did not have a great impact. The navigation acts were a series of british acts active from 1651 and 1854, passed to ensure that great britain obtained the maximum profits in trade with her colonies and with other european countries. In england, the goods would be unloaded, inspected, paid duties, and reloaded. The restoration and the navigation acts mises institute. The 1663 navigation act stated that colonial exports mainly american had to be transported in english, or colonial, ships and that all colonial imports had to first pass through english ports whether the goods were for england or. Mercantilism and the navigation acts 1607 1750 apush. Navigation acts article about navigation acts by the. What did the navigation acts require in relation to. This, in turn, helped push the american colonies to rebel in the late 18th century, even. The navigation acts, 16511849 the robinson library. In october of 1651, the english parliament passed its navigation acts of 1651. The act declared the long parliament to be dissolved, and the lords and commons then sitting to be the two houses of parliament, notwithstanding that they had not been convened by the king.
Mercantilism and the navigation acts 1607 1750 description the european kingdoms in the 17th century adopted the economic policy of mercantilism, which looked upon trade, colonies, and the accumulation of wealth as the basis for a countrys military and politcal strength. These acts played a key role in the anglodutch wars and later also came to be one of the reasons of umbrage in the american colonies against great britain, thereby. Dickersons theme throughout this book is that many historians are wrong to suggest that all of the colonies were raging against the navigation acts. The navigation act of 1660 empire is both a political and economic construct. The acts eventually contributed to growing colonial resentment with the imposition of additional duties on sugar. Now, all colonial trade would be carried in english or colonial ships, with the. I494 spain agreed to push back the eastern limit of her rights.
The board of trade and plantations, established as a permanent body in 1696, 5 kept account of the acts of colonial legislatures, corresponded with the governors, and informed itself thoroughly concerning all matters of colonial trade. The cromwellian navigation act 1651 had resulted in the first anglodutch war 165254, and charless policy had the same effect. In england, jamess push for religious toleration of catholics and. The acts were designed to protect englands interests in the west indies and north america from. The navigations laws of 1649 and 1651 were reenacted with modifications in 1660 by the restoration parliament p. Navigation acts, in english history, name given to certain parliamentary legislation, more properly called the british acts of trade. Ships crews must be 34 english, and colonies can only do business with england or other colonies. The goods had to be carried on english ships and have english crews, and the. Choose from 158 different sets of navigation act 1660 flashcards on quizlet. The laws also regulated englands fisheries and restricted foreigners participation in its colonial trade.
Jul 03, 2015 the navigation acts were a complex set of british laws dating from 1651 and 1660, regulating british and later imperial shipping and trade to foster economic and naval power see mercantilism. Navigation acts definition of navigation acts by the free. The navigation acts were laws designed to support english. Navigation acts, a series of laws passed by the british parliament restricting the privileges of foreign ships in the carrying trade in great britain and her colonies. The navigation acts were efforts to put the theory of mercantilism into actual practice. The 1660 act is generally considered to be the basis of the navigation acts, which with later amendments, additions and exceptions remained in force for nearly two centuries. Navigation act 1660 an act for the encourageing and increasing of shipping and navigation. These acts were designed to tighten the governments control over trade between england, its colonies, and. Navigation acts article about navigation acts by the free. Ibid indigo industry interest john land laurens legislation letter liberty linen london manufactures maryland massachusetts molasses navigation acts navigation laws navigation system newspapers nonimportation opinion pamphlet papers parliament pence pennsylvania.
Keep reading for an overview for apush of what these acts meant for the colonial united states and the eventual founding of the nation. In the 1660s the british government passed the navigation acts, but the laws were hardly enforced for nearly 100 years. The first navigation act 1651 resembled the legislation of 1645 but was more farreaching. The navigation acts were laws designed to support english shipbuilding and restrict trade competition from englands commercial adversaries, especially the dutch. Max weber, in his 1920 book general economic history, devoted an entire chapter to. In 1660 parliament passed a second navigation act that amended the earlier policy. Resentment against the navigation acts was a cause of the anglodutch wars and the american revolutionary war.