What was the colonial response to the Navigation Acts?

Question

• The colonists benefited from the acts, so they became more loyal to England.
• The acts removed colonists' rights, so they declared independence from England.
• The colonial economy was hurt by the acts, so they protested and successfully had them removed
• The colonists knew that the acts were not often enforced, so they snuck goods in from other countries.

Answer 1

The most accurate response regarding the colonial response to the Navigation Acts is:

• The colonists knew that the acts were not often enforced, so they snuck goods in from other countries.

While the Navigation Acts were intended to regulate colonial trade and ensure that it benefited England, many colonists found ways to circumvent these laws through smuggling and trading with other countries. While some colonists may have benefitted in certain ways from the acts, overall, the enforcement of these acts was often lax, leading to resentment and growing tensions that contributed to the revolutionary sentiments.