It was the Stamp Act of 1765 and it was and it was an act by
Great Britain to enact a direct tax on British colonies in America. It compelled that printed materials in the
colonies to be made of stamped paper created from London with an embossed
stamp. These included magazines, legal
documents, playing cards, newspapers and other printed materials throughout the
colonies. It was to paid in British currency not colonial paper money. The purpose of this tax was to pay soldiers
assigned to North America after their
triumph in the Seven Years War and French and Indian War. The colonists were against the Stamp for it
violated their rights to be taxed without their consent. Colonists sent petitions and protests against
the Act. The first significant joint measure
against it was the Stamp Act Congress.
Protests by colonial merchants spread from New York to Maryland through
Committees of Correspondences. Protests
by a new secret organization called “Sons of Liberty” turned violent that stamp
act distributors quit their posts and
the tax was not collected effectively.
Even British merchants were against the Stamp Act because their exports
were put at risks due to the protests and also petitioned Parliament. It was repealed on March 18.
