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Grievance #16 of the Declaration of Independence

What happens when a government controls who you can trade with?

In Grievance 16 of the Declaration of Independence, Grace Richter, PhD candidate in history at George Washington University, explains how Britain tightened control over colonial trade through laws like the Navigation Acts.

For years, colonists had traded relatively freely, even with countries outside the British Empire. But as tensions grew, Britain began strictly enforcing these laws and restricting trade. The shutdown of the Boston port in 1774 made things even worse, cutting off a major hub of economic activity.

For many colonists, this wasn’t just about money. Trade was their livelihood, and controlling it meant controlling their freedom. What once felt like loose oversight turned into something much more serious: direct control over colonial economies and daily life.

This is Part 16 of our 27-part series breaking down every grievance that led to the American Revolution, building toward Independence Day.

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