by Frances Stanford

Created on: May 07, 2009

From the 13th century onwards, it was very common for the English Parliament to pass laws related to navigation. Transportation links had not yet been developed to allow for the easy transport of troops overland and since England was surrounded by water, the sea was the essential mode of shipping goods and troops to the countries on the continent. During this time period, as well, England was embroiled in conflicts with some of these countries.

The Navigation Acts were a series of laws restricting the use of foreign shipping between England and its colonies. At the end of the Eighty Years War, English trade had deteriorated to the point where it affected the economy of the country. The Spanish had removed the embargoes they had placed on trading with the Dutch and by 1647 the English merchants had lost their foothold on the trade activity with countries around the Mediterranean. Commodities from Spain, Portugal and other countries were squeezing them out of the market at home because Dutch ships were bringing these goods into England and Scotland.

There were several laws passed that prohibited the import of these products in any ships other than those owned by companies from England and Scotland. One of these was that of whale products. Companies petitioned the government to prohibit goods from such places as Turkey when they found that they were hurting their business at home.

In 1650, a general policy was prepared to stem the flow of goods from the Mediterranean area that were making their way into England by being brought through Holland and Zeeland. This policy paved the way for the Navigation Act of 1651, which restated the English policy that goods traded in England must be carried by English ships. A mission from England had made an appearance at the Hague in an effort to join forces with the Commonwealth of the Republic of the Seven Netherlands. When this request was denied, Oliver Cromwell introduced the Navigation Act in the House of Lords so that it could be made into law.

The details of the Navigation Act of 1651 banned the use of foreign ships in transporting any goods to England or its overseas colonies. The law was aimed at harming the Dutch trade which was hampering the business efforts of English merchants and ship owners. The Act is cited as one of the causes of the First Anglo-Dutch War, which began in 1652. During this war, the English Navy showed that it was a force to be reckoned with in controlling the waters around its lands.

The Treaty of Westminster in 1654 ended the war and affirmed the Act as being one that would be upheld. The Dutch did recognize and accept the Navigation Act of 1651, but it didn't really work in the manner in which it was intended. In addition to placing restrictions on foreign goods entering England in foreign ships, the Act attempted to diminish the Dutch trade. However, it failed in this attempt because it really did not have any impact on the Dutch, who were very proficient in smuggling goods into the English colonies, especially those in British North America, where the planters found that the Dutch prices were much cheaper. With the Dutch colony of New Netherland being in the same general area as the Thirteen Colonies, this area became a lucrative market for the Dutch trading ventures in spite of the Act.

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