The Wool Act 1699 (or the Woolens Act) was an Act of the

Parliament of England The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England from the 13th century until 1707 when it was replaced by the Parliament of Great Britain. Parliament evolved from the great council of bishops and peers that advised t ...

(10 Will. 3. c. 16), long titled ''An Act to prevent the Exportation of Wool out of the Kingdoms of Ireland and England into Forreigne parts and for the Incouragement of the Woollen Manufactures in the Kingdom of England.'' It was intended to increase

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

woolen Woolen (American English) or woollen (Commonwealth English) is a type of yarn made from carded wool. Woolen yarn is soft, light, stretchy, and full of air. It is thus a good insulator, and makes a good knitting yarn. Woolen yarn is in contrast t ...

product manufacturing by preventing Irish wool production, manufactures, and export; it also forbade the export of wool and products from the

American colonies The Thirteen Colonies, also known as the Thirteen British Colonies, the Thirteen American Colonies, or later as the United Colonies, were a group of British colonies on the Atlantic coast of North America. Founded in the 17th and 18th centur ...

. Competing woolens from these areas had recently become more available in foreign and domestic markets. The Act prohibited American colonists from exporting wool and wool products, or export to markets outside the individual colony in which it was produced, or to be transported from one place to another in the same colony. The act did not forbid the making of woolen fabrics for private consumption, but simply forbade the making of woolens for the public market. At this time the woolens exported from England had to pay heavy export duties. The act, one of the

Acts of Trade and Navigation The Navigation Acts, or more broadly the Acts of Trade and Navigation, were a long series of English laws that developed, promoted, and regulated English ships, shipping, trade, and commerce between other countries and with its own colonies. The ...

, was mainly aimed at Irish woolens and established a policy to crush the Irish woolen industry.

George Louis Beer George Louis Beer (July 26, 1872 – March 15, 1920) was a renowned American historian of the "Imperial school". Early life and education Born in Staten Island, New York, to an affluent family that was prominent in New York's German-Jewish ...

, The commercial policy of England toward the American colonie
p.77
(1893) It had little effect on the American colonies; at most it only slowed the potential industry. Shopkeepers had a very hard time during this period when the Wool Act was in force. Some colonists opposed this act by buying more flax and hemp. An exception to the act was passed the following year in the Exportation Act 1698 (11 Will. 3 c. 13 s. 9), which allowed these exports if they were for the use by the ship's crews and passengers. Later in the year however, duties were abolished for English exportation of manufactured woolens and other products by the Taxation Act 1698 (11 Will. 3 c. 20).An Act for takeing away the Duties upon the Woollen Manufactures, Corn Grain Bread Biscuit and Meal exported.
/ref> The act was repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act 1867.

References

External links

* {{British law and the American Revolution 1699 in law Tax legislation in the United Kingdom Acts of the Parliament of England 1699 in England Taxation in England Wool trade

See also

References

External links