History of the United States I / Unit 4 USH1 0460 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Salutary Neglect and the Molasses Act
Captions available
The idea
Britain kept lax control over the colonies under Robert Walpole, who held that commerce flourished best unencumbered by restrictions.
In practice
The seventeen thirty-three Molasses Act placing a sixpence duty on sugar, rum and molasses from French and Dutch competitors.
Where people slip
Britain did not enforce it, so New England mariners smuggled those goods more cheaply than English islands sold them.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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