The Navigation Acts

The Navigation Acts were a series of laws passed by the English Parliament in the 17th and 18th centuries. These laws aimed to control colonial trade by requiring that goods traded between England and its colonies be transported on English ships. The goal was to bolster England's economy and ensure that valuable resources benefited the mother country. The Acts restricted trade with other nations, leading to resentment in the American colonies and contributing to tensions that ultimately sparked the American Revolution. They were a key aspect of mercantilism, emphasizing the importance of a self-sufficient economy for England.