The Massachusetts Government Act of 1774 was a legislative measure enacted by the British Parliament in response to escalating colonial unrest, particularly following the Boston Tea Party. This act sought to tighten British control over the Massachusetts Bay Colony by significantly altering its governance structure and severely limiting the colonists’ civil liberties.
Before passage of the act, Massachusetts enjoyed a significant degree of self-governance, allowing colonists to exercise local autonomy and manage provincial affairs with minimal interference. However, following the Tea Party, British officials viewed this autonomy as a breeding ground for resistance to British economic and political policies and potential rebellion. Thus, the act aimed to curtail these self-governing privileges and signal expected obedience to royal authority.
