Which act was designed as a punishment for the Boston Tea Party?

The Coercive Acts were specifically enacted by the British Parliament in 1774 in direct response to the Boston Tea Party, a pivotal event where American colonists protested against British taxation by dumping an entire shipment of tea into Boston Harbor. This act of defiance was seen as a direct challenge to British authority, prompting the government to impose punitive measures.

The Coercive Acts included several laws that aimed to tighten British control over the American colonies, particularly Massachusetts, which was viewed as the epicenter of resistance. These acts included the Boston Port Act, which closed the port of Boston until the tea was paid for, and the Massachusetts Government Act, which altered the Massachusetts charter and restricted town meetings.

By imposing these harsh measures, the British government intended to isolate Massachusetts and discourage other colonies from following in its rebellious footsteps. This response to the Boston Tea Party ultimately intensified colonial unrest and laid the groundwork for the First Continental Congress and the growing revolutionary sentiment across the colonies.