Passage of the Boston Port Act
- When
- 1774–1776
- Where
- Parliament of Great Britain; Port of Boston
- Episodes
- 4
The British Parliament passed the Boston Port Act on 31 March 1774, closing the port of Boston as a punitive measure following the Boston Tea Party. The legislation required restitution to the King and the East India Company before trade could resume.
Episodes
- Introduction of the Port Bill
Lord North introduced the Port Bill to Parliament on March 18, 1774, proposing a blockade of Boston until restitution was made.
- Passage of the Boston Port Act
The British Parliament passed the Boston Port Act on 31 March 1774, officially closing the port of Boston as a punitive measure.
- Enforcement of the Blockade
The British Army, under Thomas Gage, enforced the blockade of Boston, filling the city with troops to maintain the closure.
- Repeal of the Boston Port Act
The Boston Port Act was repealed on 1 January 1776 by section 42 of the Prohibitory Act 1776.
Background and detail
Legislative Context. The act was one of five punitive measures enacted in spring 1774 to punish Boston for the December 1773 destruction of tea. It followed King George III's March 1774 speech accusing colonists of subverting the constitution and injuring British commerce.
Specific Penalties. Lord North introduced the Port Bill on March 18, 1774, which barred the use of the Port of Boston for loading or unloading goods. The blockade remained in effect until restitution was made to the King's treasury and the East India Company for damages.
Enforcement and Repeal. The British Army, led by Thomas Gage, enforced the blockade. The act took effect on June 1, 1774, and was eventually repealed on January 1, 1776, by the Prohibitory Act 1776.
People involved
- Lord North · Prime Minister who introduced the Port Bill
- King George III · Monarch whose treasury was to receive restitution
- Thomas Gage · Commander-in-Chief of the British Army enforcing the blockade
Sources
- Boston Port Act Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-15
- Intolerable Acts Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-15
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.