Hat Act (1732) - One of the Navigation Acts (1650-1750) intended to restrict colonial manufacturing, this act forbade the export of beaver hats.

House of Burgesses - This was the legislative body of Virginia. Established in 1619, it was the first representative assembly in the thirteen colonies. Like many later colonial legislatures, it was bicameral, with a council, or upper house, with members appointed by the governor, and an assembly, or lower house, with members elected by the voters. Patrick Henry's (1736-1799) famous "give me liberty or give me death" speech was delivered to the House of Burgesses in 1775, and the House took an active part in the Revolutionary War effort.