The act of the british parliament was supposed to tax virtually all transactions in the british colonies and plantations in america by decreeing that paper needed to be embossed with a revenue stamp. This book explains to me what the british did to lose america to the colonies. The stamp tax was a tax on each newspaper and thus hit cheaper papers and popular readership harder than wealthy consumers because it formed a high. Stamp act simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It seams they wanted to start small and tax them before taking over. In addition to taxing legal documents such as bills of sale, wills, contracts and paper printed for official documents, it required the american population to purchase stamps for newspapers, pamphlets, posters and even playing cards. During the stamp act crisis americans argued that there was a difference between taxing them for revenue and taxing them for the. This vivid allegorical cartoon, which illustrates the fatal effects on the empire that would result from taxing the colonies. It required colonists to purchase stamps for many documents and printed items, such as land titles, contracts, playing cards, books, newspapers, and. Stamp act crisis as november 1, 1765 approached the effective date for the enforcement of the stamp act opposition to the new form of taxation spread through the colonies. The stamp act of 1765 was made by the parliament in 1765, that affected things like paper and prints or any legal document, and needed to be payed in british currency. A stamp act is a law that puts a tax on the transfer of some documents. Those who pay the tax receive an official stamp on their documents, making them legal documents.
French and indian war proclamation of 1763 provisions of the. Those that pay the tax get an official stamp on their documents. The stamp act crisis the passage of the stamp act was met with widespread resistance in the colonies. Hst 146 the stamp act crisis pdf the stamp act crisis.
This act required the colonists to pay a tax, represented by a stamp, on newspapers, playing cards, diplomas, and legal documents. Important dates in the stamp act crisis march 22, 1765. The stamp act of 1765 was an act of the parliament of great britain which imposed a direct tax. Stamp act, first british parliamentary attempt in 1765 to raise revenue through direct taxation of all american colonial commercial and legal papers, newspapers, pamphlets, cards, almanacs, and dice. This compilation, one of a series in this theme crisis, reflects an often underemphasized aspect of the revolutionary period, pointed out by literary historian robert ferguson. It went from taxing the colonies to complete control over them. Thus, the stamp act also appeared to threaten the right to trial by jury. To examine how and why britain raised taxes in the colonies. The new tax was imposed on all american colonists and required them to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. The stamp act was a law that required all colonial residents to pay a stamp tax on virtually every printed paper including legal documents, bills of sale, contracts, wills, advertising, pamphlets, almanacs, and even playing cards and dice. The stamp act was a baby step to the rest off the acts. The money collected by the stamp act was to be used to help pay the costs of defending and protecting the american frontier near the appalachian mountains 10,000 troops were to be stationed on the american frontier for this purpose. The stamp act, the first direct tax on the american colonies.
The stamp act crisis, originally published by unc press in 1953, identifies the issues that caused the confrontation and explores the ways in. In 1765, the british parliament imposed stamp duties on the american colonies, setting in motion the chain of events which ultimately led to the american revolution. The stamp act of 1765 celebrates its inglorious 250th anniversary this year. By reading this book,i found all the information that i needed. Allison of suffolk university discusses the overall significance of the stamp act crisis, how it affected all classes of people in different ways, and how it has been viewed in. View notes hst 146 the stamp act crisis pdf from hst 146 at california state university, san bernardino. The most virulent of the colonial reactions were the seven stamp act resolves introduced by patrick henry in the virginia house of burgesses on may 29, 1765.
The stamp act crisis, originally published by unc press in 1953, identifies the issues that caused the confrontation and explores the ways in which the conflict was a. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Lynne oats university of warwick and pauline sadler curtin university of technology accounting for the stamp act crisis abstract. Works cited primary sources the boston tea party, 1773. The purpose of the tax was to pay for troops in north america after the british victory in the seven years war and the french and indian war. Prologue to revolution published by the omohundro institute of early american history and culture and the university. In 1765 parliament passed the stamp act as a further measure to raise revenue by placing taxes on. Though it tends to read as a textbook at times, such is the nature of the act. Others felt the economic effects of reduced trade with america after the sugar act and. The issues raised by the stamp act festered for 10 years before giving rise to the.
Stamp act, 1765, revenue law passed by the british parliament during the ministry of george grenville. This year 1765 was the epocha of the stamp act1 i drew up a petition to the select men of braintree, and procured it to be signed by a number of the respectable inhabitants, to call a meeting of the town to instruct their representatives in relation to the stamps. Everywhere in the colonies except in georgia the stamp masters were forced to resign and by november 1, 1765, the date the stamp act would take effect, not a single stamp distributor in the colonies was found on duty. The actual cost of the stamp act was relatively small. Prologue to revolution published by the omohundro institute of early american history and culture and the university of north carolina press morgan, edmund s. The stamp act was passed by the stamp act congress as a way to subvert the power of parliament to tax the colonies. It also explains the mistakes that the british made that cost them the colonies. The stamp act crisis, originally published by unc press in 1953, identifies the issues that caused the. The stamp act crisis, originally published by unc press in 1953, identifies the issues that caused the confrontation and explores the ways in which. The british decided to turn to the colonist to help pay for the troops. The stamp act crisis university of north carolina press. Military and naval history expert kennedy hickman has nearly 20 years of experience as a museum curator and director, and has been featured on the history channel. Delegates from nine colonies meet in new york city in what has become. Which of the following was not a feature of the stamp act crisis of 1765.
Blackstone 1766, commentaries on the laws of england. Demonstrations in boston convinced the royally appointed stamp distributor that he. Political science quarterlythe stamp act, the first direct tax on the american colonies, provoked an immediate and violent response. The stamp act crisis one major event that reveals insight on the cause of the american revolution was the passing of the stamp act by the british parliament on march 22, 1765. Students identify and interpret the multiple causes and effects of historical events. The act imposed a tax that required colonial residents to purchase a stamp to be affixed to a number of documents. The first direct tax to be levied on the american colonies, it required that all newspapers, pamphlets, legal documents, commercial bills, advertisements, and other papers issued in.
The stamp act was widely opposed by the colonial population resulting in organized protests that allowed the revolution movement to gain tactical experience and set a pattern of resistance that led to the american independence. The stamp act and its effects because of the french and indian war, great britain was deeply in debt. The stamp act of 1765 was the first internal tax levied directly on american colonists by the british parliament. Immediately download the stamp act summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching stamp act. The stamp act and the political origins of american legal. Throughout the stamp act crisis, the sons of liberty professed continued loyalty. The items often have to be physically stamped at approved government offices following payment of the duty, although other.
Violations of the stamp act would be tried in viceadmiralty courts, which had traditionally been used only in cases involving maritime law. Newspapers were subjected to tax and price increased. The stamp act crisis online reading for april 14, 2010 introduction the issuance of the. The stamp act was passed by the british parliament on march 22, 1765. This without a doubt the definitive historyillumination of the stamp act crisis that preceded, and was an indirect cause thereof the american revolution. The use of a teapot to protest the stamp act of 1765 suggests the symbolic value of tea, as well as the ubiquity of its consumption. Stamp act crisis, 17651766, repeal of stamp act, american. From halifax in the north to antigua in the south anti stamp act demonstrations took place in cities and towns. A pamphlet produced by thomas paine that was revolutionary in the sense that it didnt list the problems with britains government but rather accused the entire system of monarchy as inherently bad and asserted that democracy was a more preferable form of government. Prologue to revolution repeal representation is tyranny samuel adams serious crime sons of liberty stamp act congress stamp act crisis stamp act officials stamp act riots tax stamps taxation without representation taxing situation thirteen.
Colonial resistance was immediate and vigorous, their opposition to the act bolstered by the effects of a postwar recession and new restrictive monetary policy. Protests against british imperial policy took many forms, such as this mock stamp b whose text reads an emblem of the effects of the stamp. I am using it as a resource for my website patriotsandredcoats. Conventional documentaries of the period assume a gradual exasperation with british policy, one that builds from slow objection and reluctant protest to outrage and, only. The authors have given us a searching account of the crisis and provided some memorable portraits. Many products have been covered by stamp acts such as playing cards, patent medicines, cheques, mortgages, contracts and newspapers. The stamp act was made on march 22, 1765 and the next act was declaratory acts which was passed the same day the stamp act was repealed. The authors other book the prologue to a revolution. Added to that dept was the coast of sending troops to protect the western lands. Ten years before anyone drunk or sober seriously discussed independence, americans in the thirteen colonies faced a crisis that helped forge their national identity and began the agonizing process of questioning whether they were truly equal to their british brethren.
The stamp act, the first direct tax on the american colonies, provoked an immediate and violent response. In 1765 the british parliament, in an attempt to increase revenue from the colonies to pay for troops and colonial administration, passed the stamp act. The first direct tax to be levied on the american colonies, it required that all newspapers, pamphlets, legal documents, commercial bills, advertisements, and other papers issued in the colonies bear a stamp. During may 1765, the controversy of the stamp act crisis washed across the colonies like no. To show that they paid, every paper had to have a revenue stamp on it. According to some estimates, if these two groups were subtracted from the population of massachusetts, there would be scarcely anyone left. The stamp act crisis, originally published by unc press in 1953, identifies the issues that caused the confrontation and explores the ways in which the conflict was a prelude to the american revolution. A view of the obelisk erected under libertytree in boston on the rejoicings for the repeal of the stamp act 1766. Ships papers, legal documents, licenses, newspapers, other publications, and even playing cards were taxed. List of books and articles about stamp act of 1765. It was aimed at meeting some of the defense costs resulting from britains victory in the french and indian war. A stamp act is any legislation that requires a tax to be paid on the transfer of certain documents.