Hat Act 1731

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Hat Act 1731 (5 Geo. 2. c. 22) — a British law from 1732

What it was
- A Parliament law aimed at limiting hat production in the American colonies and boosting hat making in Great Britain.

What it did
- Forbade exporting hats from the colonies.
- Limited the number of workers hatmakers could hire and allowed only two apprentices per hatmaker.
- Intended to protect British hatters from colonial competition.

Why it existed
- Part of a broader mercantilist effort to keep colonial production in Britain and control trade.

Who it affected
- The colonies in British America and the British West Indies.

When it happened
- Royal assent: June 1, 1732
- Took effect: September 30, 1732

What happened later
- Repealed: July 15, 1867 (by the Statute Law Revision Act 1867).

Impact and reaction
- The act forced colonial buyers to purchase British hats, making imported hats and cloth much more expensive than local goods (about four times as costly).
- It drew criticism from some colonial leaders; Thomas Jefferson called it a striking example of despotism.