The idiom "read the riot act" means to issue a stern warning or reprimand to someone, usually in a forceful or direct manner. It comes from a historical practice where a formal proclamation known as the Riot Act was read aloud to disperse unruly crowds or protests.
To punish Answer: "Read the riot act" is not punishment per se, but explaining (often loudly!) what the infraction is and what the consequences will be if the problem doesn't stop. It's the step before punishment.
I don't remember the details, but in 18th or 19th century England if a crowd was considered unruly by the authorities someone would actually read the crowd the anti-riot law. Sounds sort of like reading Miranda rights to a group.
There was a literal Riot Act in England up until fairly recently. This phrase has come to mean anything you say to reprimand rowdy people and try to get them to quiet down.
The cast of The Riot Act - 2012 includes: Rachele Rapisardi
who issued the declartory act
Yes, in early 1984. The tour was a triple bill with Quiet Riot headlining, Saga as the middle act and Girlschool being first on.
because it caught shays
The Riot Act was an act of the Parliament of Great Britain which authorised local authorities to declare any group of twelve or more people to be unlawfully assembled and thus have to disperse or face punitive action. The long title of the act was: An Act for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies and for the more speedy and effectual punishing the rioters.
It did not give them complete control, but it did cause a big riot.
Enrollment Act of Conscription. =)
The Impressment Act was were the British went onto the shores of Boston and "captured" strong looking men and brought them back to their ships to be part of the British Navy. The Anti-Impressment Riot was a retaliation (a mobbing of the ships) of the Act.