The Stamp Act
March 22, 1765
The Act Summarized
- The act was passed by the Parliament of Great Britain.
- This imposed a direct tax on the colonies of British America.
- It required that printed material had to be on stamp paper produced in London.
- The stamp tax had to be paid in valid British currency.
- The purpose was to help pay for troops.
Reaction of The Colonists
- The Stamp Act was very unpopular among the colonists.
- They considered it a violation of their rights as Englishmen to be taxed without their consent.
- Colonial assemblies sent petitions and protests.
- Protests often turned violent and destructive.
- Tax distributors resigned their commissions and taxes were never collected.