GED Social Studies TestU.S. HistoryMedium
A historian is examining the factors that led to the American colonists' decision to declare independence from Great Britain. Which of the following British policies most directly contributed to a widespread sense of injustice and unity among the colonies?
- AThe Proclamation of 1763, which prohibited colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains.
- BThe Quartering Act, which required colonists to house and feed British soldiers.
- CThe Navigation Acts, which restricted colonial trade to British ships and ports.
- DThe Intolerable Acts, imposed as punishment for the Boston Tea Party, closing Boston Harbor and reducing self-governance.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. The Intolerable Acts, imposed as punishment for the Boston Tea Party, closing Boston Harbor and reducing self-governance.
The Intolerable Acts, also known as the Coercive Acts, were designed to punish Massachusetts but were widely seen by all colonies as an assault on their liberties. This led to increased intercolonial cooperation and calls for a unified response, directly contributing to the push for independence.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The Proclamation of 1763 angered colonists who desired western expansion but did not directly threaten existing colonial governance or economy in the same way the Intolerable Acts did.
- B. The Quartering Act caused significant resentment, but the Intolerable Acts were a more comprehensive and punitive measure that unified the colonies more broadly.
- C. While unpopular, the Navigation Acts had been in place for a long time and did not spark the same immediate, widespread outrage as the Intolerable Acts.
Intolerable Acts
A series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 after the Boston Tea Party, aimed at punishing Massachusetts and asserting British authority.
- Closed Boston Harbor until tea was paid for.
- Curtailed self-governance in Massachusetts.
- Expanded the Quartering Act to all colonies.
Memory trick: Intolerable Acts: Britain's 'Intolerable' push for control ignited colonial fury.