Parliament Punishes Massachusetts:
The British Parliament and King George were outraged by the actions of the colonists. They had tried to benefit the colonists by sending them cheap tea, and what did they do? They threw it in the sea! This time, they had gone too far. They both agreed that the issue was no longer about taxes, it was about Great Britain’s control over the colonies. “We must master them totally,” King George declared, “or leave them to themselves.” The king was not about to leave the colonies to themselves, however.
Great Britain’s anger caused Parliament to pass the Coercive Acts in 1774. The colonists called these laws the Intolerable Acts because they were so harsh and unacceptable. The Intolerable Acts were designed to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. The first law closed Boston harbor to all shipping until the ruined tea was paid for. The second placed the government of Massachusetts firmly under British control. Colonists in Massachusetts could not even hold a town meeting without the colonial governor's permission.The third law said that British officials (including soldiers) who were accused of a crime would be tried in England, not the colonies. Finally, the Quartering Act, which required colonists to house and quarter British troops on demand, including in their private homes as a last resort, was reinstated (after it had been repealed following the Boston Massacre). To enforce the new laws, more British troops were sent to the colonies, especially Massachusetts.
A few British leaders worried that the Intolerable Acts might push the colonies into rebellion. But King George III was sure they would force the colonists to give into British authority.
The British Parliament and King George were outraged by the actions of the colonists. They had tried to benefit the colonists by sending them cheap tea, and what did they do? They threw it in the sea! This time, they had gone too far. They both agreed that the issue was no longer about taxes, it was about Great Britain’s control over the colonies. “We must master them totally,” King George declared, “or leave them to themselves.” The king was not about to leave the colonies to themselves, however.
Great Britain’s anger caused Parliament to pass the Coercive Acts in 1774. The colonists called these laws the Intolerable Acts because they were so harsh and unacceptable. The Intolerable Acts were designed to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. The first law closed Boston harbor to all shipping until the ruined tea was paid for. The second placed the government of Massachusetts firmly under British control. Colonists in Massachusetts could not even hold a town meeting without the colonial governor's permission.The third law said that British officials (including soldiers) who were accused of a crime would be tried in England, not the colonies. Finally, the Quartering Act, which required colonists to house and quarter British troops on demand, including in their private homes as a last resort, was reinstated (after it had been repealed following the Boston Massacre). To enforce the new laws, more British troops were sent to the colonies, especially Massachusetts.
A few British leaders worried that the Intolerable Acts might push the colonies into rebellion. But King George III was sure they would force the colonists to give into British authority.