Question

Why did some colonists smuggle goods in the 1760s

Answer 1

Colonists smuggled goods in the 1760s to bypass restrictive British mercantilist policies, such as the Navigation Acts and the Molasses Act, which imposed high taxes and limited trade, in order to trade profitably and participate in the consumer revolution.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the 1760s, some colonists chose to smuggle goods due to the restrictive trade policies of British mercantilism, namely the Navigation Acts and additional trade regulations. The colonists desired to trade freely in order to enhance their economic position and partake in the growing consumer revolution; however, British policies like the Navigation Acts of the 1660s limited trade to British ships and imposed taxes on goods, thereby increasing the cost of non-English goods to the colonists. Additionally, the Molasses Act of 1733, which imposed high duties on certain imports, made legal trade less profitable. Smuggling became a method to evade these heavy duties and restrictions, allowing colonists to trade more profitably with other nations. British mercantilist policies thus played a pivotal role in hampering the development of the colony's thriving commercial economy, leading to a preference for smuggling as an economic recourse.

Answer 2

The colonist began smuggling goods during the 1760s because they were heavily taxed by the British. The stamp Act affected both colonist and British merchants alike. Also the British would not permit ships from other countries to trade in America. The Navigational Act prevented colonist to buy cheaper goods from other countries and because of these unfair conditions, it light the fuse that led to the American Revolution as the colonist desired to be free from British rule and establish their own country.