Navigation Act

a famous marine law first promulgated by the British Government in 1651 (or even, in a sense, in 1645) for the protection of British commerce and the carrying trade. Its renewal with \ few changes was made in 1660, soon after the acce ion of Charles II. The act related to five subjects: Coasting trade; fisheries; commerce with the colonies; commerce with European countries; commerce with Asia, Africa and America, and was chiefly a move in England’s struggle with the Dutch for the po e ion of the carrying trade of the that all colonial trade should be carried on in ships built and owned in England in the colonies (a provision which powerfully stimulated colonial ship-building), and that, in the case of many specified goods, trade should be with England only. The act was largely rendered inoperative by colonial smuggling. The efforts at last made to enforce it were among the chief causes of the Revolution.