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 ...
(10 Will. 3. c. 16),
long title
In certain jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and other Westminster-influenced jurisdictions (such as Canada or Australia), as well as the United States and the Philippines, primary legislation has both a short title and a long title.
The ...
d ''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 ...
's
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
Irish may refer to:
Common meanings
* Someone or something of, from, or related to:
** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe
***Éire, Irish language name for the isle
** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
wool production, manufactures, and export; it also forbade the export of wool and products from the
American colonies. 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, was mainly aimed at Irish woolens and established a policy to crush the Irish woolen industry.
[ George Louis Beer, 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>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 ...
.
See also
* Burying in Woollen Acts
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