The first of the Navigation Acts was passed in 1651 and existed for almost two centuries to be fully repealed in 1849. The laws were designed to protect British economic interests in colonial trade and to protect its industry against the rapidly growing Dutch navigation trade. The law essentially dictated that British foreign trade was to be carried out only by English vessels. Favorably for American colonies, English referred to the nationality not the place of residence thus including colonial ships to conduct the trade. Additionally, a system of duties and rebates was set up to give British goods a price advantage in its own colonies.

In 1660 the second Navigation Act was passed. It contained the same provisions as the first act and added more protective measures such as the ban to imports of tobacco, sugar, wool products, cotton and a long list of other goods to any country, except to England and other English colonies. These products were imposed heavy duties when shipped.

Successive laws were passed in 1662, 1663, 1670 and 1673; with an enforcement law passed in 1696. Additions to the law included a list of products exported from the colonies to other nations that had to be shipped to Britain first and then re-exported. Likewise colonial imports had to be shipped through Britain first before reaching their final destination. The crew of the British of colony vessels had to be three fourths of British nationality.

After the French and Indian war (1754-1763), Britain’s worsened financial situation forced it to use the provisions of Navigation Acts to burden American colonies with more taxes opening the door for deterioration of its economic policies in America. One positive consequence of England’s mercantilist policy in the colony was that shipbuilding became an important industry in New England.

British mercantilist trade policy and its commercial legislation slowly alienated its colonies. Conducting business under this law was made difficult because of bureaucracy, growing corruption of officials and high duties paid on trade, smuggling and a black market for goods became widespread. Disrespect for British law caused by the Navigation Act and others that were to come eventually led to the uprising of the colonial population that culminated in their freedom from the British Empire in 1776.