Okay, this may just be a case of me being young, but I have always heard the term “read [insert name here] the riot act” and never quite got it. Now, I kind of understand the basic meaning, just from context, but where exactly did this term come from? And what is the full definition? If anyone has an explaination, or a link to a page that can explain, please help me out!
OK, this may or may not be important, but the North Carolina legislature passed in 1771 (I think) something called the Johnston Riot Act, which, when read, essentially made any meeting the government didn’t like illegal. I bet there were plenty of other “riot acts” of the sort, probably the origin of the phrase.
The riot act would be a warning that any further misbehavior would be severely dealt with. Manhattan does it often.
Cecil knows, and it was England not North Carolina:
Thank you all very much for your help!
In Canada, the Criminal Code continues to provide for the reading of the riot act.
I seem to recall that in the mid-80s, there was a riot in the summer at Kamloops and the mayor of Kamloops read the proclamation to the rioters.