Hat Act facts for kids
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| Long title | An Act to prevent the Exportation of Hats out of any of His Majesty's Colonies, or Plantations in America, and to restrain the Number of Apprentices taken by Hatmakers in the said Colonies or Plantations, and for the better encouraging the making Hats in Great Britain. |
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| Citation | 5 Geo II. c. 22 |
| Territorial extent | British America and the British West Indies |
Quick facts for kids Dates |
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| Royal assent | 15 July 1732 |
| Commencement | 15 July 1787 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | The Statute Law Revision Act 1867 |
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Status: Repealed
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| History of passage through Parliament | |
The Hat Act was a law made by the Parliament of Great Britain in 1732. This law aimed to control and limit how many hats people in the American colonies could make.
The full name of the law was "An Act to prevent the Exportation of Hats out of any of His Majesty's Colonies, or Plantations in America, and to restrain the Number of Apprentices taken by Hatmakers in the said Colonies or Plantations, and for the better encouraging the making Hats in Great Britain." This long name basically meant that Britain wanted to stop hat making in America and make sure people bought hats from Britain instead.
The Hat Act placed strict rules on making, selling, and sending hats made in the colonies to other places. It also limited how many workers hat makers could hire. They could only have two apprentices (young people learning a trade). This law was one of many that Britain passed to protect its own businesses from competition in the colonies.
The main effect of this law was that people in the American colonies had to buy hats made in Britain. This rule made hats and cloth from Britain much more expensive for Americans. They often paid four times more than they would have for local goods. The Hat Act was eventually canceled by the Statute Law Revision Act 1867.
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Why Britain Made the Hat Act
Britain passed the Hat Act to protect its own hat-making industry. The American colonies had many raw materials, like beaver fur, which was great for making hats. British leaders worried that hat makers in the colonies would become too successful.
They wanted to make sure that people in the colonies bought goods from Britain. This way, money would flow back to Britain, helping its economy. The Hat Act was part of a larger plan to control trade and manufacturing in the colonies.
What the Hat Act Said
The Hat Act had several key rules:
- It stopped colonists from sending hats they made to other colonies or countries.
- It limited how many hats could be produced in the colonies.
- Hat makers in America could only hire a small number of workers.
- They were also limited to having only two apprentices at a time.
These rules made it very hard for hat makers in the colonies to grow their businesses. It was designed to keep them from competing with hat makers in Great Britain.
How the Law Affected Colonists
The Hat Act had a big impact on people living in the American colonies. Because they couldn't easily buy local hats, they were forced to purchase hats imported from Britain. These imported hats were much more expensive.
This law made many colonists angry. They felt it was unfair that Britain was controlling their businesses and making them pay higher prices. Laws like the Hat Act contributed to the growing tension between Britain and its American colonies.
Thomas Jefferson, who would later become a U.S. President, strongly criticized the Hat Act. He called it an example of "despotism," which means a ruler having total power in a cruel way. He felt it was one of the worst examples of unfair rules in British history.
The End of the Hat Act
The Hat Act remained a law for many years, even after the American colonies gained independence. However, it was eventually repealed, or canceled, by the Statute Law Revision Act 1867. This act removed many old and outdated laws from British records.
The Hat Act is remembered as one of the laws that showed how Britain tried to control the American colonies' economy. It played a part in the events that led to the American Revolution.
