Stamp Act
1765; law that taxed printed goods, including: playing cards, documents, newspapers, etc.
The Stamp Act was a law passed by the British Parliament in 1765 that required colonists to pay a tax on various paper goods, including legal documents, newspapers, and playing cards. The act was intended to raise revenue for the British government to help pay the costs of protecting and administering the American colonies.
The act was met with significant resistance and protest from colonists who saw it as a violation of their rights. They argued that they could not be taxed without their consent, as they had no representation in the British Parliament. The slogan “no taxation without representation” became a rallying cry for the colonists.
Protests and boycotts of British goods ensued, and colonial leaders convened the Stamp Act Congress to draft a petition to Parliament expressing their grievances. In 1766, Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, but also passed the Declaratory Act, which asserted Britain’s right to tax and legislate for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever.”
The Stamp Act was a pivotal moment in the lead up to the American Revolution, as it represented an early example of colonial resistance to British authority and taxation.
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