Describe and discuss 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 …

…discouraging to hat makers in the colonies and virtually eliminated the trade in America due to the very small number of people who met the criteria. Following that act, pig and bar iron was allowed to come into England without being taxed. This was to encourage use of pig and bar iron among the colonies. This act did not however allow the colonies to have steel furnaces, slitting mills, and plating forges for shaping iron.