The Wool Act 1698 (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 England, great council of Lords Spi ...
(
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 Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
's
woolen product manufacturing by preventing
Irish 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 (No. 2) 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 (No. 3) 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.
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See also
* Burying in Woollen Acts
Notes
References
{{Authority control
1699 in law
Acts of the Parliament of England 1698
Repealed English legislation
Tax legislation in the United Kingdom
1699 in England
Taxation in England
Wool trade