The Intolerable Acts
Taylor Johnston
Hensey Fenton
Blake Estridge
Why did it happen?
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Aiding the struggling East India Company: Prior to the passage of the law, the
company had been required to sell its tea through London where it was taxed and
duties assessed. Under the new legislation, the company would be permitted to sell
tea directly to the colonies without the additional cost. As a result, tea prices in
America would be reduced, with only the Townshend tea duty assessed.
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French and Indian War-building revenue: Britain was in debt 140 million pounds.
Enforced taxes to gain revenue.
Response to the Boston Tea Party: In December 1773, a group of colonists
destroyed tons of tea in Boston, Massachusetts, an act that came to be known as
the Boston Tea Party. The colonists partook in this action because Parliament had
taken away the taxes of tea distributed by the British East India Company in order
to save the company from bankruptcy, which made British tea less expensive than
the colonial tea and thus gave them a sort of monopoly, and this angered the
colonists. News of the event reached England in January 1774. Parliament
responded with a series of acts that were intended to punish Boston for this
destruction of private property, restore British authority in Massachusetts, and
otherwise reform colonial government in America.(Also thought would end
boycotts from Sons of Liberty)
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What were the facts of it?
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Boston Port Acts-outlawed the use of the port of Boston until they paid for the tea
Quartering Acts- A revision of the 1765 Quartering Act, which was largely ignored by colonial
assemblies, the 1774 Quartering Act expanded the types of buildings in which soldiers could
be billeted and removed the requirement that they be provided with provisions. Contrary to
popular belief, it did not permit the housing of soldiers in private homes. Typically, soldiers
were first to be placed in existing barracks and public houses, but thereafter could be housed
in inns, houses, empty building, barns, and other unoccupied structures.
Quebec Act- Though it did not have a direct effect on the thirteen colonies, the Quebec Act
was considered part of the Intolerable Acts by the American colonists. Intended to ensure the
loyalty of the king's Canadian subjects, the act greatly enlarged Quebec's borders and allowed
the free practice of the Catholic faith. Among the land transferred to Quebec was much of
the Ohio Country, which had been promised to several colonies through their charters and
to which many had already laid claim. In addition to angered land speculators, others were
fearful about the spread of Catholicism in American.
Administration of Justice Act-(aka the Murder Act) made the colonial court system more
conducive to the royal crown
What were the results of it? How did it
change things?
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Great Britain hoped that the Intolerable Acts would isolate radicals
in Massachusetts and cause Americans to concede to the authority
of Parliament over their Elected assembly
The formation of the Continental Congress
Promoted sympathy for Massachusetts and encouraged colonist
from the otherwise diverse colonies
These led to the convening of the First Continental Congress at
Philadelphia on September 5. Creating the Continental Association,
the congress called for a boycott of all British goods. If the
Intolerable Acts were not repealed within a year, the colonies agreed
to halt exports to Britain as well as support Massachusetts if it was
attacked. Rather than exact punishment, North's legislation worked
to pull the colonies together and pushed them down the road
towards war.
Other states pledged to support Massachusetts in case of affect. This
was the beginning of colonial unity.