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The Navigation Act of 1660 forbade importing into or the exporting from the British colonies of any goods except in English or Colonial
ships. It also forbade articles such as tobacco, sugar, cotton and indigo to be shipped to any country except to England or some English
plantation. These goods had to pay heavy tariffs when shipped to England. Articles such as grain and fish were not taxed because they were
produced in England, and if the colonial production had been sent to that country, the English producer would be bankrupt.
The northern colonies produced many of the same kinds of goods that England produced and continued to do so well into the 19th century. As
a result manufacturing there suffered from the trade laws. The southern colonies which raised things such as tobacco and rice, which could
not be grown in England, suffered far less. In spite of all efforts, the Navigation Acts could scarcely be enforced at all. Colonists became
lawbreakers. Smuggling was universal and it went on regardless of the courts that were established to try and prosecute smugglers. Courts
were established in most of the colonies for this reason. The Navigation Acts were an economic and political blunder in the long run but for a
time they provided England with the wealth and power it used to create a great empire. The trade acts not only made people lawbreakers, it
made colonists hold Parliament in contempt, not able to enforce its own laws. The most significant result of the Navigation Acts upon
American history was the stifling of colonial manufacturing and increased resentment against (and ultimate break from) the mother country,
and one of the reasons leading to the American Revolution.
Conclusions: Based upon the reading or your prior knowledge:
1. According to the reading, what was one of the lasting effects of the Navigation Acts?
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2. Why do you think the British government made the Colonial citizens follow the Acts?
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3. What does it mean to smuggle?
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4. Did the Acts make England rich?
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