The British punished the colonists by passing a new law saying that no ship carrying colonial goods could enter or leave Boston Harbor until the Massachusetts Colony paid for all the tea that was destroyed. Parliament ordered the Royal Navy to blockade Boston Harbor. The blockade prevented supplies from entering the Harbor. It also prevented Massachusetts merchants from selling their goods. As another punishment, Parliament ordered the citizens of Massachusetts to quarter British soldiers. The colonists had to either pay for food and housing for the British soldiers, or give them food and a place to sleep.