Stamp Act (1765)
Required colonist to purchase special stamped paper for legal documents, printed items
The Stamp Act of 1765 was a tax imposed by the British Parliament on the American colonies. This tax required colonists to purchase special stamps for any printed materials they used, including legal documents, newspapers, and playing cards. The stamps were to be placed on the printed materials as evidence of payment.
The Stamp Act was passed as a means for the British government to raise revenue to pay off debts incurred during the French and Indian War. The tax was seen as an infringement on the rights of the colonists, who did not have representation in the British government. Colonists protested the tax, arguing that only their own elected representatives should have the power to tax them.
The Stamp Act sparked widespread protests and resistance from the colonists. The slogan “no taxation without representation” became a rallying cry for the colonists, and they boycotted British goods in protest. In some places, mobs burned effigies of British officials and destroyed property.
The Stamp Act was eventually repealed in 1766 due to the combination of colonist resistance and economic pressure on British merchants who were losing significant profits due to the boycotts. However, the colonists’ anger towards Britain continued to grow, helping lay the foundation for the American Revolution.
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