The article by Larry Sawyers helps the reader to understand clearly the importance of the Navigation Act in the

role for economic independence and how it played a key role in causing the Revolution per Sawyers. Sawyer disagrees with Thomas that the Navigation Acts were not important but states that it is my contention that the Navigation Acts played a key role in causing the Revolution. The ability to sell and purchase goods was controlled by these acts. With many goods they had to be re-routed from Europe to England which gave ultimately vast control over the colonies. The Navigation Acts ensured that the colonist economy was governed by the British; they did this by reserving all commerce to be between the colonies and Europe to the British citizens (which included therefore the colonists themselves). Goods that were deemed enumerated had to be re-exported, if they were bound for Europe they had to first go to a British port and then re-exported or if they were imports from Europe then it had to be routed through England, thus making these goods much more costly to import/export. The Acts also controlled what goods could be made such as they disallowed the manufacture of fur hats. In controlling the economy they disallowed the production of various goods such These Acts gave control over the colonies and gave the British and advantage economically and in turn this left the colonists in a disadvantaged position which helped feed the rebellion that led to the Revolution. The Neo-Whig focus was on the need for democracy and liberty and that America was striving for its own sovereignty. They believed in democracy for all and did not agree with the Progressive School of thought and felt that it was important to prove them wrong. The Progressive school of thought was one that the relationship between Britain and America as essentially exploitative. Yet the Neo-Whig party points out that the struggle isnt as much as economic as it is a struggle for democracy and liberty.

Control was the driving factor behind limiting colonial manufacturing. By having these limits the British maintained control and power over the colonies. The colonies were dependent upon England and thus giving England more revenues. With the outlaw of manufacturing if various goods such as iron, textiles and hats to name a few, the colonists in turn would have to rely on the British for purchasing these products. This gave England the upper hand and kept the colonists controlled by them economically. From what I have read it would appear that America was definitely motivated to rebel against England. The provisions that were made were not in the colonists favor and with the limited trade; the imposing Navigation Acts not only was the colonists controlled economically but as well as in the area of liberty. Being exploited never settles well with the party who is being exploited and the seeds of rebellion were definitely being planted and watered. One of the ways that the colonists economy was hurt was in the way that the British would undercut the tobacco farmers in the price of tobacco; by undercutting the price it basically forced the colonist tobacco farmer out of business. The Navigation Acts essentially drove down the economy for the colonists with their restrictions and re-exporting of goods and with the

lack of democracy and independence to make a profitable living without interference helped to give birth to the revolution.