The Intolerable Acts, also known as the Coercive Acts, were a set of harsh laws made by the British Parliament in 1774. These laws mainly targeted the Massachusetts colony.

The British created these acts after the Boston Tea Party in December 1773. During this protest, colonists dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor to show their anger at British taxes. This act of defiance made many colonists very upset and brought them together to fight back against British control.

Key Parts of the Intolerable Acts

1. Boston Port Act:

   • This law closed the port of Boston until the colonists paid for the tea that was destroyed.
   • The aim was to hurt Boston's economy since it was a major trading center, responsible for about 60% of colonial shipping.

2. Massachusetts Government Act:

   • This act took away the Massachusetts charter and limited town meetings.
   • It made the people less able to govern themselves and relied more on British authority.

3. Administration of Justice Act:

   • This law let royal officials accused of crimes be tried in England instead of in the colonies.
   • Many colonists saw this as a way for British officials to escape punishment.

4. Quartering Act:

   • This law required colonies to provide housing and supplies for British soldiers.
   • People viewed this as another way the British tried to control them.

Colonial Response

The reaction to these acts was quick and brought the colonists together. The Intolerable Acts impacted all thirteen colonies and led to united actions against Britain.

1. Continental Congress:

   • In September 1774, delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies (Georgia did not attend) held the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
   • About $1.5 million in trade was lost as the colonies decided to boycott British goods.

2. Committees of Correspondence:

   • Colonists expanded their communication networks to plan actions against British policies.
   • Around 10,000 colonists joined these committees to share news and organize protests.

3. Economic Boycotts:

   • Colonists created a non-importation agreement, which meant they would stop buying British products.
   • At its height, about 90% of households in the colonies took part in this boycott.

4. Public Demonstrations:

   • Protests grew in many colonies; for example, 1,500 people in Philadelphia joined a mass protest.
   • This showed that the colonies were working together more than ever.

Conclusion

The Intolerable Acts became a turning point that united the colonies against British rule. The formation of the Continental Congress and the strong opposition to British policies were key moments in American history, pushing the colonies closer to revolution. These acts showed how upset the colonists were and highlighted the power of working together against unfair laws. Ultimately, they helped lay the foundation for the fight for independence.