## Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts) of 1774 The Coercive Acts, also known as the Intolerable Acts, were a series of punitive measures passed by the British Parliament in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party. These acts aimed to punish Massachusetts and assert British authority over the increasingly rebellious colonies. Let's break down each act: ### Act 1: Closing the Port of Boston Think of this as a major economic blockade. The Port of Boston was closed until the colonists paid for the destroyed tea. This directly targeted Boston's economy, crippling its trade and causing significant hardship. Imagine your local grocery store suddenly being shut down – that's the kind of impact this had on Boston. ### Act 2: Revoking the Massachusetts Charter This significantly weakened colonial self-governance. The Massachusetts Charter, which granted the colony a degree of self-government, was revoked. This replaced the elected colonial government with a royally appointed governor who had significantly more power. This move was a direct attack on colonial autonomy and fueled resentment towards British rule. ### Act 3: The Quartering Act Many people confuse this with earlier Quartering Acts. This one was significantly harsher. This act required colonists to house British soldiers in their homes, even against their will, and at their own expense. This was deeply resented as it was seen as an invasion of privacy and an unfair burden on the colonists. Imagine being forced to share your home with soldiers, and having to pay for their food and lodging – this was the reality for many colonists. ### Act 4: Trial of British Soldiers in England This ensured British soldiers would likely avoid punishment for crimes committed against colonists. Any British soldier accused of a crime in the colonies could choose to be tried in England. This virtually guaranteed that soldiers would not be held accountable for their actions in the colonies, further inflaming colonial anger. This lack of justice fueled the colonists' belief that they were being treated unfairly and unjustly. ## Townshend Acts of 1767 The Townshend Acts, passed in 1767, imposed a series of taxes on goods imported into the colonies. These taxes were designed to raise revenue for the British government and were met with widespread resistance. * **Taxes on:** * Lead * Paint * Paper * Tea * Glass Remember the acronym "L.P.P.T.G." to help you remember the taxed goods. Many believe these taxes were solely about raising revenue. While that was a factor, asserting British authority was equally important. These taxes were particularly resented because they were seen as a violation of the colonists' rights, specifically their right to "no taxation without representation." The colonists argued that they should not be taxed by a parliament in which they had no elected representatives. Think of it like this: Imagine a government imposing taxes on you without your consent or voice in the matter. That's how the colonists felt. **Key Takeaways:** Both the Coercive Acts and the Townshend Acts played significant roles in escalating tensions between Great Britain and its American colonies, ultimately contributing to the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War. The Coercive Acts were a direct response to colonial resistance, while the Townshend Acts were an attempt to assert British authority and raise revenue. Both sets of acts highlighted the fundamental disagreements between the colonies and Great Britain regarding representation and taxation.