Why did the colonists call the Coercive Acts the "Intolerable Acts"?

1 Answer
Nov 30, 2016

They were called the intolerable acts because of their tremendous negative impact on the colonies.

Explanation:

Interesting question. First you need to look into exactly what is featured in the intolerable acts. The intolerable acts included clauses that had the following effects.

  • British soldiers could be tried for crimes in England instead of Massachusetts
  • Citizens in the colonies had to quarter, or house soldiers in their homes in times of war and peace
  • The Boston Harbor was closed until the colonists reimbursed the king for the tea that was destroyed during the Boston Tea Party
  • The right to hold town meetings (meetings that citizens could participate in to voice their opinions and make laws for their communities) was severely restricted

Well, if you were a colonist, wouldn't this be "intolerable" to you? The fact that their rights had been trampled over led the colonists to name the Coercive Acts the Intolerable Acts. Hope this helped!