In 1765, two years after the French and Indian War, the British Parliament was still trying to solve its money crisis. Although the Sugar Act (American Revenue Act of 1764) did not prove to be an effective means of making money, Parliament still felt that the American colonies should help. The Prime Minister at the time, George Grenville, proposed the Stamp Act in 1765. A stamp tax was first introduced in England in 1694 and was a useful way to collect revenues from British citizens. Grenville felt this would be fair since people in Britain had been paying a stamp tax for over fifty years. The Stamp Act for the colonies was similar and stated that all legal documents including newspapers, marriage licenses, wills, diplomas, contracts, pamphlets and playing cards had to have a tax stamp printed on it in ink. The Stamp Act was the first direct tax (a tax on items purchased in the colonies and used by people in the colonies) used by the British government to collect revenues from the colonies.

Colonies Respond to the Stamp Act

The first official action against the Stamp Act came from the Virginia House of Burgesses on May 29th, 1765. The “Virginia Resolves” were five motions made by Patrick Henry, a young new member of the House of Burgesses. The Virginia Resolves stated that all British citizens (even if they live in the North American colonies) deserve liberty, just like the royal charters given by King James I in the early 17th century. The fifth resolve was the most extreme of the five resolutions passed by the House. It stated that only the General Assembly of Virginia had the power to place taxes on its inhabitants. This declaration reflected the growing idea in the colonies that there could be no taxation without representation. The resolves were passed, but the House of Burgesses moved to soften them the next day. However, the full Virginia Resolves had already been published and took the colonies by storm. In response to Virginia’s actions, Massachusetts arranged a meeting of representatives from all the colonies. This meeting, known as the Stamp Act Congress, met in New York in October 1765. There they wrote “The Declaration of Rights and Grievances.” The document listed reasons the colonies were upset with the British government.

Protests Against the Stamp Act

The Stamp Act soon went beyond peaceful protests. Mobs in many cities violently demonstrated against the Stamp Act. Many of these groups went by such patriotic names as the Sons of Liberty and the Liberty Boys. These secretive groups, often made up of printers and artisans, were led by some of the most powerful men in the colonies. Samuel Adams led the Sons of Liberty in Boston. These groups protested by hanging effigies of people associated with the tax and ransacking their homes. Occasionally, these groups would “tar and feather” people who represented the royal government. People who took jobs as stamp collectors feared for their safety. Most tax collectors quit their positions before ever issuing any stamps. In addition to mob violence, other groups organized efforts to stop the importation of British goods. Many of these groups also punished merchants who violated the boycott of British goods.

Britain Repeals the Stamp Act

Following the protests and the news of the violence against the tax collectors and government officials, a heated debate began in Parliament. Some felt that they couldn’t repeal the act or it would only become harder to control the colonies. Others argued that the tax was unfair and should be lifted. Benjamin Franklin spoke before Parliament as a voice of the colonists. He testified before Parliament that the colonists had no objection to external taxes but only objected to internal taxes. Internal taxes were taxes for activities within the colonies, such as the Stamp Act, while external taxes were taxes on imports and exports (trade). His words, along with others, convinced King George III to repeal the act in March 1766. The same day, Parliament passed the “Declaratory Act.” It stated that Parliament had power over the colonies to pass any future laws “in all cases whatsoever.” The colonists celebrated the Stamp Act’s repeal, but no one knew that their conflicts with Parliament were far from over.

Student Inquiry

1. What differences do you see between how they used stamps in 1765 and how we use them today?
2. Why do you think the Stamp Act made the colonists so angry?
3. How do you think Parliament should have handled this situation? Should they have repealed the act or left it in effect as a show of power? Were they in the right to pass the act in the first place?
4. How do you think the colonists may feel about the “Declaratory Act”?

Next: Townshend Acts