The English Navigation Acts and Subsequent Accompanying Legislation

Early in the 17th century, England began a depression. After much debating, the English powers came to some simple conclusions. Trade was the key to success, in order to prosper England had to export more than it imported. They also realized that they could become more prosperous by exporting luxuries as opposed to importing them. Some things, however, could not be produced in England had to be imported. The easiest solution was to use colonies where the products could be produced. This brought a new found value to the English North American Colonies. In order to better gain from the existence of it's colonies, England passed a series of acts intended to impose certain limitations and requirements on it's colonies.
The first of these acts was the Navigation Act of 1651. It was intended to impede the Dutch carrying trade. The act stated that nothing or no one from America, Asia, or Africa could come into England, Wales, Ireland or any other English colony unless they were in English vessels. …