The Stamp Act of 1765 Most important event leading to the American Revolution Purpose: Raise...
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Transcript of The Stamp Act of 1765 Most important event leading to the American Revolution Purpose: Raise...
The Stamp Act of 1765 • Most important event leading to the American Revolution • Purpose: Raise revenues to support military• Provisions:
– Purchase and use special stamped paper for newspapers, customs documents, marriage certificates, death certificates, mortgages, insurance policies, liquor licenses, & playing cards.
• Both Sugar Act and Stamp Act - offenders - admiralty courts
• Projected revenues – 12-20% of military expenses
Sugar Act• EXTERNAL TAX –
Levied on IMPORTS• Regulate trade, fell mainly
on merchants and ship captains
Stamp Act• INTERNAL TAX – levied
directly on property, goods, and government services IN the colonies
• Raise revenue for the crown and touched everyone – if you make a will, transferred property, bought playing cards, newspapers…
Grenville’s' view:• Stamp Act - reasonable and
just – Colonials pay fair share for colonial defense – Stamp Act in Britain much heavier, in effect since
1695
Resisting the Stamp Act• May 1765 – Patrick Henry (VA Lawyer) -
Virginia Resolves • 5 of 7 resolutions adopted by
House of Burgesses, including non-importation.
• Claimed Virginia could only be taxed by Virginians. – "No taxation w/o representation"
• Assemblies of 8 other colonies passed resolutions similar to Virginia’s.
• Colonies had "virtual representation" in Parliament – All British subjects were represented, even those who did
not vote for members in Parliament.
• Colonists dismissed "virtual representation“
• Did not really want "direct representation" (actual representation) – Would mean increased taxes (as in Britain) – Increased responsibilities to the crown – Colonial reps. would be heavily outnumbered in Parliament
Stamp Act Congress (1765) • Brought together 27 delegates from 9 colonies• Statement of rights and grievances – Parliament no
authority to levy taxes outside GB, deny any person jury trial
• demanded end to the Stamp Act
• Set precedent for future resistance to British rule.
• Non-importation agreements against British goods.
• Grass-roots resistance (means??)
• Loyal Nine – artisans, shopkeepers, businessmen in Boston
• Pressure stamp collectors to resign
• Why Boston???• Andrew Oliver/Thomas Hutchinson• Sons of Liberty
Sons of Liberty • Samuel Adams
• Violently enforced nonimportation agreements against violators; (tarring & feathering was one painful tactic).
• Late 1765 - stamp act agents were forced to resign; no one risked selling stamps.
• October 31, 1765 – NY merchants –
BOYCOTT British goods– Other cities followed
• Colonists purchased 40% of England’s manufactured goods!!
–PANIC!!
Stamp Act repealed in 1766
• Parliament - Declaratory Act • Way it was worded – Colonists saw it as a way
to save face – Parliament saw it - right to tax colonies in the
future.
Quartering Act, 1765
• Provide food/quarters for British troops.
• INDIRECT TAX – colonial assemblies had to raise $$
• NY – most soldiers
• New York Suspending Act – NY resisting, GB threatened to nullify all laws passed by colony if assembly refused to vote supplies