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The Stamp Act

The Stamp Act. By Ashley Albrecht. Before the actual war of the Revolution could begin, there had to be a revolution “in the minds and hearts of the people.” -John Adams. One of the most important factors in this change of heart was an innocent looking document called the Stamp Act.

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The Stamp Act

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  1. The Stamp Act By Ashley Albrecht

  2. Before the actual war of the Revolution could begin, there had to be a revolution “in the minds and hearts of the people.” -John Adams One of the most important factors in this change of heart was an innocent looking document called the Stamp Act.

  3. Historical Background • The French and Indian War caused England to go into dept. • King George 3 thought colonists should help pay. • George Greenville proposed an act to tax printed material in the colonies. • England already had taxes. • Passed by Parliament on March 22, 1765.

  4. What Was The Stamp Act? • Taxed all legal, commercial and printed documents, as well as other printed material. • Items would be stamped when the tax was paid. • First direct tax placed on the colonies.

  5. Actual Stamps • There were a variety of stamps used. • Stamps were put on newspapers, customs documents, licenses, college diplomas, and most legal documents. • Offenders were to be tried in vice-admiralty courts without a jury.

  6. Reactions by Colonists • The colonists boycotted British goods and stores that sold them, lawyers or printers who used stamps or stamped paper. • Many lawyers and printers refused to use stamps or stamped paper.

  7. More Reactions • In Massachusetts, rioters destroyed Andrew Oliver’s house, a new stamp commissioner. He quit the next day! • There was also violence sparked by the Sons Of Liberty.

  8. There were even threats of tar and feathering. On November 1, 1765, the day the Stamp Act was to officially go into effect, there wasn’t a stamp commissioner left in the colonies to collect the tax. In Boston, a mob hung and then beheaded an effigy and “stamped” it into pieces. In New York, rioters ransacked a British officer’s house. The officer had said he “would cram the stamps down American throats at the point of his sword!” More Reactions

  9. Stamp Act Congress met in New York from Oct. 7-25 to discuss how to respond. They set up petitions to Parliament, and a declaration of rights and grievances. Letters told King George 3 that it wasn’t so much the amount of tax but the right to tax its self. Asserted that the only body that could tax them was their own colonial government. Reactions by Colony Government

  10. “Taxation without Representation” • Colonies had no representation in their own legislatures • Because of this they felt that they had no say in whether or not this act should be passed. • Many legislators felt the colonists were being taxed unfairly - more than England itself.

  11. Ben Franklin’s Testimony • Testifies to Parliament about the Stamp Act • Says that “only a force of arms” will make the colonists pay the tax • Asserts that the tax is not helping out the colonists, only Britain • Threatens that the colonists will not buy Britain’s goods if tax continues

  12. Repeal • Stamp Act ended on March. 18, 1766. • Parliament passed the Declaratory Act as a way to keep England out of debt

  13. Importance in American History • United for a common cause, this response paved the way for the American Revolution. • Set a pattern of colonial defiance. • Mutual distrust had been established. • Many young “patriots” began to take on leadership roles including, Patrick Henry, William Pitt, John Adams, and Samuel Adams. • Philosophical differences remained on both sides.

  14. Bibliography • A Summary of the 1765 Stamp Act http://www.history.org/other/teaching/tchcrsta.htm • Resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress October 19, 1765 http://www.ukans.edu/carrie/docs/texts/resoluti.htm • Sugar Act and Stamp Act http://www.stjohnsprep.org/htdocs/sjp_tec/projects/internet/sact.htm • The Stamp Act http://www.dell.homestead.com/revwar/files/STAMP.HTM • The Path to Revolution http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/9198/revwar/stampact.htm

  15. More Bibliography • THE STAMP ACT RIOTS and TAR AND FEATHERING http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle/stampactriots-tar.html • To Tax or not to Tax http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/E/tax/davis03.htm • Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions http://www.history.org/other/teaching/tchcrvar.htm • Stamp Act http://www.yahooligans.com/Around_the_World/Countries/United_States/History/Colonial_Life__1585_1783_/Stamp_Act/

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