Question

"The merchants of Boston, having taken into consideration the deplorable situation of the trade and the many difficulties it at present labours under on account of the scarcity of money and the large sums collected for duties on goods imported; the heavy taxes levied to discharge the debts contracted by the government in the late war; the embarrassments and restrictions laid on the trade by the several late Acts of Parliament

Boston Non-Importation Agreement, August 1, 1768
Courtesy of The Avalon Project at Yale Law School
Based on the excerpt, what motivated Boston merchants to announce a boycott of British goods?

a) They wanted to raise additional revenue for the Massachusetts General Assembly.
b) They wanted to force the colonial legislature to print more paper money.
c) They wanted to encourage fellow colonists to adopt the factory system of production.
d) They wanted to protest the effect of imperial policies on the Massachusetts economy.

Answer 1

Boston merchants announced a boycott of British goods to protest the impact of British imperial policies on Massachusetts' economy, including duties and trade restrictions. The correct option is D.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Boston merchants decided to announce a boycott of British goods to protest the effect of imperial policies on the Massachusetts economy. They were motivated by the scarcity of money, the heavy burden of taxes to pay off war debts, and the restrictions imposed by the Townshend Acts.

These policies included duties on imported goods, which led to higher costs for the merchants and scarcity of currency, and they impacted the colonial trade significantly. Additionally, the increase in British military presence in Boston and the actions of the vice-admiralty courts undermined the autonomy and economic well-being of the colonists.