Summary Chart of 13 Colonies
Intolerable Acts Summary
The “Intolerable Acts” were a series of acts passed by Parliament in 1774 mostly, though not completely, in response to the Boston Tea Party. They were designed to reassert the mother country’s power over its colonies. They include:
To the British parliament, these acts, which they called “coercive acts,” were crucial measures in establishing order and stability in the ever-expanding British Empire. The Boston Port Act was simply an impartial decree that required the colonists to compensate for the damage they themselves had wrecked on tea merchandise. The Massachusetts Government Act was aimed at restoring the British government’s rule in the independent-minded colony. The Administration of Justice Act allowed accused royal officials a fair trial back in England, which might not have been given at Massachusetts. Further, the Quartering Act was essential, as soldier barracks in the colonies were not sufficient, and since the soldiers protected Americans from Indian assaults, they deserved to be taken in by the American colonists without complaint. Lastly, the Quebec Act was Great Britain’s shrewd way of administering their French subjects. All the measures mentioned above were critical steps in re-establishing Great Britain’s authority in the colonies. However, much to Great Britain’s dismay, these acts met much resistance from the Americans.
From an American colonists’ perspective, these were unfair laws imposed by a callous administration thousands of miles away. The Boston Port Act seemed like a punitive action taken against righteous colonists who had protested virtuously against the tea tax. The Massachusetts Government Act was an unwarranted law that forbid the town meetings, thereby undermining the colony’s cherished autonomy. Further, as the colonists viewed it, the Administration of Justice Act was clearly a law that let guilty British officials off the hook. In addition, the Quartering Act was a patent violation of individual rights. Finally, the Quebec Act extended not only the borders of Quebec, but also the borders of a vast papal domain that would certainly threaten Puritan New England. Thus, to the Americans, the above acts were collectively considered nothing less than a “massacre of American Liberty.” It was with such a defiant mindset that the Americans proudly unfurled the American Revolution, ushering in a new era of independence from the mother country that the original colonists had emigrated from long, long ago.
- Boston Port Act: shut down Boston’s ports until damages from the Tea Party were paid
- Massachusetts Government Act: forbid town meetings unless approved by governor
- Administration of Justice Act: allowed accused royal officials to have trial in England
- Quartering Act: allowed British soldiers to take lodgings in private homes without due compensation to the colonists
- Quebec Act: extended borders of Quebec, England’s newly acquired territory, and allowed French to practice Catholicism
To the British parliament, these acts, which they called “coercive acts,” were crucial measures in establishing order and stability in the ever-expanding British Empire. The Boston Port Act was simply an impartial decree that required the colonists to compensate for the damage they themselves had wrecked on tea merchandise. The Massachusetts Government Act was aimed at restoring the British government’s rule in the independent-minded colony. The Administration of Justice Act allowed accused royal officials a fair trial back in England, which might not have been given at Massachusetts. Further, the Quartering Act was essential, as soldier barracks in the colonies were not sufficient, and since the soldiers protected Americans from Indian assaults, they deserved to be taken in by the American colonists without complaint. Lastly, the Quebec Act was Great Britain’s shrewd way of administering their French subjects. All the measures mentioned above were critical steps in re-establishing Great Britain’s authority in the colonies. However, much to Great Britain’s dismay, these acts met much resistance from the Americans.
From an American colonists’ perspective, these were unfair laws imposed by a callous administration thousands of miles away. The Boston Port Act seemed like a punitive action taken against righteous colonists who had protested virtuously against the tea tax. The Massachusetts Government Act was an unwarranted law that forbid the town meetings, thereby undermining the colony’s cherished autonomy. Further, as the colonists viewed it, the Administration of Justice Act was clearly a law that let guilty British officials off the hook. In addition, the Quartering Act was a patent violation of individual rights. Finally, the Quebec Act extended not only the borders of Quebec, but also the borders of a vast papal domain that would certainly threaten Puritan New England. Thus, to the Americans, the above acts were collectively considered nothing less than a “massacre of American Liberty.” It was with such a defiant mindset that the Americans proudly unfurled the American Revolution, ushering in a new era of independence from the mother country that the original colonists had emigrated from long, long ago.