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The Massachusetts Government Act became law on May 20, 1774. It was one of the Coercive Acts passed by Parliament to punish Massachusetts and Boston for the Boston Tea Party. The act revised the structure of the government in Massachusetts and revoked the Massachusetts Bay Colony Charter, which had been granted by King Charles I on March 4, 1629.

In November 1764, the Massachusetts House of Representatives sent a petition to the House of Commons in protest of the Sugar Act.

The Molasses Act went into full effect on December 25, 1733. The law was passed to help British officials maintain control over trade throughout the British Empire. It levied taxes on rum, spirits, molasses, and sugar imported from outside the Empire.