Question

When the British Parliament passed the Coercive Acts, also known as the Intolerable Acts, they intended to do what to the colonists?

A) Punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party and assert British authority.
B) Establish tighter control over the colonies and limit their self-governance.
C) Close the port of Boston and restrict trade to economically cripple the colonists.
D) Strengthen British military presence in the colonies to suppress any resistance.

Answer 1

The British Parliament passed the Coercive Acts to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party and reinforce British authority, but they ultimately united the colonies against British rule.

Step-by-step explanation:

Intentions Behind the Coercive Acts

When the British Parliament passed the Coercive Acts, also known as the Intolerable Acts, their primary intention was to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party and reassert British authority. These acts, enacted in response to the destruction of tea, closed the port of Boston, limited colonial self-governance, replaced elected officials with crown appointees, and mandated strict control over town meetings in Massachusetts.

There was hope within the British government that these punitive measures would isolate Massachusetts and bring the colony into line with royal authority. However, the opposite happened—the acts galvanized resistance across the colonies, leading to increased unity and, eventually, the calling of the First Continental Congress.