Navigation Acts (jun 1, 1651 – jan 1, 1774)

Description:

The Navigations Acts are a series of British parliamentary laws regulating trade between Britain and its colonies. They were based on Mercantilism, an economic theory based on the idea that there was a limited supply of wealth in the world, and that there should be a favorable trade balance (more exports than imports). The Navigation Acts often included tariffs and strict rules on what sort of items could be traded and with who.

This did benefit the colonies in some ways--for example, the colonies always had a stable buyer. Later on though, these limitations became frustrating and another point of ire for the colonists.

Added to timeline:

Date: