The Stamp Act

The Stamp Act of 1765 was a tax put on the British American colonies,

sponsored

by George Grenville and was the first direct tax placed on them.

Parliament needed means to help fund expensive costs of keeping troops inside

the colonies, so they imposed a tax on all of the colonies everyday printed

materials, such as pamphlets and newspapers, and all legal and commercial

documents, which all needed to have a certain special stamp placed on it. Many

agents of the American colonies that resided in London had suggested other

methods to obtain the needed money but where ignored and the Americans

where taxed.

There were many Americans who did not elect members of Parliament and

they greatly opposed the Stamp Act, for two reasons, because they didn't have

enough money to pay for them and also it went against their new principle that

said, " No taxation without representation." This new tax made many

Americans very angered and their actions that came from this started the way

towards the American Revolution.

There was many forms of resistance, including the king and Parliament

receiving many petitions, Americans boycotting the British goods, and printers

and lawyers refusing to use the stamps for stamping documents. Another major

point is that violence sparked up from the Sons of Liberty, and in New York

rioters got