Smuggling refers to the illegal transportation or trade of goods, usually in violation of customs laws and regulations. It involves the secretive movement of goods across borders without paying the required taxes or duties.
Related terms
Navigation Acts: These were a series of laws passed by Britain in the 17th and 18th centuries that regulated colonial trade and restricted it to mainly benefit British merchants.
Sugar Act: Passed by Parliament in 1764, this act aimed to reduce smuggling by imposing new duties on imported sugar and other products.
Stamp Act: Enacted in 1765, this act required American colonists to pay a tax on almost every piece of printed paper they used, including legal documents, newspapers, and even playing cards.