Final answer:
The colonists called the coercive acts the 'Intolerable Acts', and two major punishments included the closure of Boston Harbor and the overhaul of Massachusetts's colonial government.
Step-by-step explanation:
The colonists referred to the coercive acts passed by the British Parliament as the Intolerable Acts. These acts were a series of measures that included punitive laws intended to reassert control over the colonies, particularly Massachusetts, following events like the Boston Tea Party.
Two of the major punishments under the Intolerable Acts were:
- The Boston Port Act, which closed Boston Harbor to all commerce until the East India Company was reimbursed for the destroyed tea.
- The Massachusetts Government Act, which revamped the colonial government of Massachusetts by putting it under direct control of the British Crown and severely limiting town meetings.
These acts not only punished Massachusetts but also brought the American colonies together in opposition to British actions, ultimately contributing to the spark of the American Revolution.