Iron Act facts for kids
The Iron Act was a special law made by Great Britain in 1750. Its main goal was to make the American Colonies buy more iron from Great Britain. It also stopped the colonies from making their own finished iron products. This law was part of Great Britain's plan to control trade with its colonies.
What Was the Iron Act?
This law was designed to help British iron makers. It made sure that raw iron from the colonies went to Great Britain. Then, British factories would turn it into finished goods. The colonies would then have to buy these finished goods back from Great Britain.
Rules of the Act
The Iron Act put several strict rules on the American Colonies:
- American colonies could no longer sell raw iron, like 'pig iron' or 'bar iron', to other countries.
- Any iron they did produce had to be sent only to Great Britain's docks.
- They couldn't build new iron factories, which were called 'mills', in America.
- Any existing iron mills in the colonies needed special permission to keep working.
Why This Law Mattered
The Iron Act was officially ended much later, in 1867. However, its effects were felt long before that. The colonies of Maryland and Virginia were most affected by this law. This was because they were major producers of iron at the time. The act basically stopped the colonies from making many important metal items. This included things like sharp tools, nails, and tinplates.
A Step Towards Independence
Great Britain often created laws like the Iron Act. These laws were meant to make sure that trade mostly benefited England. They wanted the colonies to provide raw materials and then buy finished products from Britain. This system was called mercantilism.
The Iron Act was one of many laws that angered the American colonists. They felt these laws were unfair and limited their growth. Over time, these feelings of unfairness helped lead to the American Revolution. The colonists wanted more control over their own trade and economy.
