The Intolerable Acts: Punitive Measures Imposed by the British on Massachusetts in Response to the Boston Tea Party.

The Intolerable Acts

in response to Boston Tea Party, 4 acts passed in 1774, Port of Boston closed, reduced power of assemblies in colonies, permitted royal officers to be tried elsewhere, provided for quartering of troop’s in barns and empty houses

The Intolerable Acts were a series of punitive measures passed by the British Parliament in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party. The main aim of these Acts was to punish Massachusetts for its role in the Destruction of the Tea.

The four major components of the Intolerable Acts were:

1. The Boston Port Act: This act closed the port of Boston until the destroyed tea was paid for and order was restored. This severely impacted Boston’s economic activity, as the port was a major hub for trade and commerce.

2. The Massachusetts Government Act: This act restricted the powers of the Massachusetts colonial government, making their democratic government more autocratic. It forbade town meetings without the governor’s permission, increased the governor’s power, and limited the number of elected officials. It granted the governor, who was appointed by the British, the authority to appoint or dismiss judges, sheriffs, and other officials.

3. The Administration of Justice Act: This act allowed trials of British officials, including soldiers, to be moved to other colonies or even back to Great Britain, where they would be tried by a sympathetic court.

4. The Quartering Act: This act required colonists to provide accommodations, such as housing and food, to British troops stationed in their area. Colonists were required to comply with the Quartering Act, which was seen as an invasion of privacy and property rights.

The Intolerable Acts were aimed at punishing the colonists and asserting greater authority over the colonies. This punitive action led to increased resentment among the colonists and further galvanized support for the American independence movement.

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