Final answer:
The Coercive Acts were more punitive than previous laws and intended to punish Massachusetts, specifically by the Boston Port Act, which halted all shipping in Boston Harbor.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Coercive Acts, also known as the Intolerable Acts, were different in purpose from the previous laws the British passed for the Colonies in that they were more punitive rather than lenient, commercial, or unrelated. These acts were a response particularly to the Boston Tea Party and were intended to punish Massachusetts and ensure British control.
The specific Coercive Act that closed the port of Boston and prevented businesses from shipping out (exporting) or receiving (importing) any goods by boat was the Boston Port Act. This action was taken by the British Parliament as a direct punishment for the destruction of the tea, and it had the wider effect of unifying the colonies against British oppression.