March 31, 1774

Parliament Closes the Port of Boston

The first of the Coercive Acts, the Boston Port Act, passes. It closes Boston Harbor to "the landing and discharging, lading or shipping, of goods, wares, and merchandise," effective June 1, 1774, until Boston pays for the tea. It also removes all customs officials from Boston to Salem. The preamble claims the move is necessary because "dangerous commotions and insurrections" had been "fomented and raised … by divers ill-affected persons, to the subversion of his Majesty's government, and to the utter destruction of the publick peace."