The Hat Act is a former Act of the Parliament of Great Britain (5 Geo II. c. 22) enacted in 1732 to prevent and control hat production by the colonists in British America. It specifically placed limits on the manufacture, sale, and exportation of colonial-made

hat A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...

s. The act also restricted hiring practices by limiting the number of workers that hatmakers could employ, and placing limits on

apprentice Apprenticeship is a system for training a new generation of practitioners of a trade or profession with on-the-job training and often some accompanying study (classroom work and reading). Apprenticeships can also enable practitioners to gain a ...

ships by only allowing two apprentices. The Hat Act was one of several legislative measures introduced by the British Parliament, seeking to restrict colonial manufactures, particularly in North American areas with available raw materials, and protect British manufactures from colonial competition. This law's effect was that Americans in the colonies were forced to buy British-made goods, and this artificial trade restraint meant that Americans paid four times as much for hats and cloth imported from Britain than for local goods. It was repealed by the

Statute Law Revision Act 1867 The Statute Law Revision Act 1867 (30 & 31 Vict c 59) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was intended, in particular, to facilitate the preparation of a revised edition of the statutes. This Act was partly in force in Great ...

. In his '' A Summary View of the Rights of British America'',

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was previously the natio ...

denounced the Act as "an instance of despotism to which no parallel can be produced in the most arbitrary ages of British history".

References

Great Britain Acts of Parliament 1732 1732 in the Thirteen Colonies Laws leading to the American Revolution Headgear Hatmaking Clothing controversies Repealed Great Britain Acts of Parliament {{GB-statute-stub

Further reading

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