why did parliament pass the navigation acts?

Parliament passed the Navigation Acts primarily to protect and strengthen British economic interests by controlling trade between Britain, its colonies, and foreign countries. The Acts aimed to enforce the mercantilist economic policy, which sought to ensure that the colonies benefited the mother country by exporting more than they imported, and by using British ships and crews for all trade. They were also passed to weaken Dutch dominance in global trade, especially in North America and Europe, by restricting the use of foreign ships and requiring goods to be transported on English or colonial vessels. This helped Britain expand its control and influence over its colonies and colonial trade, ensuring that valuable colonial goods were first shipped to England before being re-exported elsewhere. The Navigation Acts also served to increase revenue and strengthen naval power, particularly under Oliver Cromwell's Parliament after the English Civil War. These Acts were part of a broader strategy to increase the self-sufficiency of the British Empire and decrease dependence on foreign imports, while attempting to outcompete rival European powers economically and politically.