Which law, passed in 1651, placed restrictions on colonial trade?

The correct answer is the Navigation Acts, which were a series of laws passed primarily in the 17th century, starting with the first act in 1651. These acts were designed to regulate colonial trade and enable England to collect duties (taxes) on the colonies' imports and exports.

The Navigation Acts mandated that certain goods produced in the colonies could only be shipped to England or to English colonies. This legislation was significant because it aimed to bolster England’s economic supremacy and control over colonial trade, ensuring that profitable commodities like tobacco, sugar, and indigo benefited the mother country. By limiting trade with other nations, the acts ensured that colonial economies remained tied to England, enhancing British mercantilist policies.

Understanding these laws is crucial for comprehending the evolving relationship between the colonies and Britain, which ultimately contributed to colonial discontent and the desire for independence. Other acts like the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts came later and dealt more directly with taxation issues rather than trade restrictions, while the Dominion of New England was a temporary administrative consolidation rather than a law focusing on trade.