Final answer:
The Coercive Acts, known as the Intolerable Acts by the American Patriots, were punitive laws enacted by the British Parliament in 1774 to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party and assert control over the colonies. These acts closed Boston Harbor, altered colonial government, allowed moving trials of crown officers, and mandated housing for British soldiers, uniting the colonies in opposition to British policies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Coercive Acts, also referred to by the American Patriots as the Intolerable Acts, were a series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 following the Boston Tea Party. These acts were designed to punish the Massachusetts colony and assert British authority. The four acts included:
- The Boston Port Act, closed Boston Harbor until damages from the Boston Tea Party were paid.
- The Massachusetts Government Act restructured the Massachusetts government and limited town meetings.
- The Administration of Justice Act, allowed British officials to be tried elsewhere if a fair trial was not possible in Massachusetts.
- The Quartering Act required local authorities to provide lodging for British soldiers.
The passage of these acts not only punished Massachusetts but also led to increased unity among the colonies. Actions like the calls for prayer and fasting in Virginia by Thomas Jefferson, and the decision of colonies to convene the First Continental Congress, underscored how these measures served to mobilize resistance rather than isolate Massachusetts. American colonists saw the Coercive Acts as a direct threat to their rights and liberties.