Triangular Trade and the Navigation Acts

Pg. 95-96

Triangular Trade

• Settlers in Colonial America engaged in 3 types of trade– Trade with other

colonies– Direct exchange of

goods with Europe– The Triangular

Trade

Triangular Trade

• Triangular Trade– The name given to a

route with three stops.

• The American colonists were a part of the triangular trade routes with Europe and Africa

Triangular Trade

• Ships would leave the colonies with raw materials and rum bound for England

• They would leave England and take money from sale of goods, rum, and iron to Africa to trade for slaves

• Ships would bring Slaves from Africa to the West Indies

• They would take remaining slaves, sugar and molasses to the Colonies

Navigation Acts - 1651• The Colonies prospered

from trade• England wanted to ensure

that it prospered as well– Mercantilism

• Navigation Acts1. All Shipping had to be done

on English Ships2. Cash crops could only be sold

in English Colonies3. Colonial Imports had to pass

through English ports4. Any colonial goods not

shipped to England were to be taxed

Smuggling• England had trouble

enforcing the Navigation Acts

• Merchants ignored them whenever they could

• Smuggling was very common

• England had particular difficulty preventing pirates from interfering with trade