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The '''Stamp Act of 1765''' was legislation passed by the British Parliament which required that all legal documents, permits, commercial contracts, newspapers, wills, pamphlets and playing cards in the [[American]] colonies be taxed.  They were given a special tax stamp to show the tax was paid.<ref>http://ahp.gatech.edu/stamp_act_bp_1765.html</ref> Parliament passed this act to help repay lenders from the expensive [[French and Indian War]].  Americans protested energetically against the British imperial government in the years from 1765 to 1775—then engaged in all-out warfare. 

The '''Stamp Act of 1765''' was legislation passed by the British Parliament which required that all legal documents, permits, commercial contracts, newspapers, almanacs, wills, pamphlets and playing cards in the [[Thirteen Colonies|American colonies]] be taxed.  A special tax stamp was affixed to show the tax was paid.  Parliament passed this act to help repay lenders from the expensive [[French and Indian War]].   

The Stamp Act outraged Americans because it asserted parliament’s right to tax Americans without their consent.  That violated the rights of colonists as Englishmen, and they protested vigorously.

At issue was not the size of the tax but the fact that no Americans had been consulted, and the colonial legislatures had been ignored.  parliament assumed it had the right to tax anything it wanted.  The Stamp Act incited the first major American protest--it worked, and Americans continued to protest energetically against the British imperial government in the years from 1765 to 1775; then it was time for all-out warfare.  

Public opposition to the Stamp Act was fierce, and gave rise to the slogan "[[No taxation without representation]]."  The American colonists threatened to tar and feather the tax collectors. Crowd action ranged from enforcement of community norms to response to economic conflict within the community. Americans opposed hostile government officials, and ridiculed British "placemen" (patronage holders).  At the time of the Stamp Act, crowd action was the most effective and American response.  No one was killed, but American merchants and British officials were shamed and ridiculed in public.<ref>http://virtualology.com/stampactcongress.com/</ref>

 

Public opposition to the Stamp Act was fierce, and gave rise to the slogan "[[No taxation without representation]]."  The American colonists threatened to tar and feather the tax collectors (who quickly resigned), then boycotted all British goods until the tax was repealed a year later. Crowd action ranged from enforcement of community norms to response to economic conflict within the community. Americans opposed hostile government officials, and ridiculed British "placemen" (patronage holders).  At the time of the Stamp Act, crowd action was the most effective and American response.  No one was killed, but American merchants and British officials were shamed and ridiculed in public.<ref>http://virtualology.com/stampactcongress.com/</ref>

Official opposition was reflected by the Stamp Act Congress, which issued its resolutions on October 19, 1765. It rejected taxation without representation, stressed the ancient (historic) rights of the colonists as British subjects, and decided to lay the colonists' grievances directly before the British Parliament.

Official opposition was reflected by the Stamp Act Congress, which issued its resolutions on October 19, 1765. It rejected taxation without representation, stressed the ancient (historic) rights of the colonists as British subjects, and decided to lay the colonists' grievances directly before the British Parliament.

 

==London==

==London==

London merchants who had a large and profitable trade with the colonies were very badly hurt by the boycotts the coloniosts imposed, as shown by the January 17, 1766 petition of the merchants of London, reprinted below.

Prime Minister [[George Grenville]] (1712–1770) designed the tax, but it raised opposition not only in America but also among the British commercial classes. London merchants who had a large and profitable trade with the colonies were very badly hurt by the boycotts the colonists imposed, as shown by the January 17, 1766 petition of the merchants of London, reprinted below.

The British government debated whether to send the Army to enforce the Stamp Act. Two issues were involved: collection of the stamp duties and restoration of civil authority. The Duke of Cumberland might have pressed for intervention, but his death removed the strongest advocate for such a course. Most of the cabinet eventually concluded that the American resistance could not be compromised as long as the Stamp Act remained in effect and that the act itself was not worth saving, so they repealed it on March 18th, 1765.<ref> John L. Bullion, "British Ministers and American Resistance to the Stamp Act, October-December 1765." ''William and Mary Quarterly'' 1992 49(1): 89-107. </ref>  

The Rockingham ministry came to power in 1765 determined to not alienate the colonists. Parliament debated whether to send the Army to enforce the Stamp Act. Two issues were involved: collection of the stamp duties and restoration of civil authority. The Duke of Cumberland might have pressed for intervention, but his death removed the strongest advocate for such a course. Most of Rockingham's cabinet eventually concluded that the American resistance could not be compromised as long as the Stamp Act remained in effect and that the act itself was not worth saving, so they repealed it on March 18, 1765.<ref> John L. Bullion, "British Ministers and American Resistance to the Stamp Act, October-December 1765." ''William and Mary Quarterly'' 1992 49(1): 89-107. </ref>  

==Public Opinion==

==Public Opinion==

===Newspapers===

===Newspapers===

During the French and Indian War (1765063), the fledgling American newspaper industry significantly improved its methods of reporting news. Editors reprinted news and editorials from other papers, thus helping form a sort of national consensus. This made the press an effective voice in opposition to the Stamp Act --which taxed newspapers and almanacs--and in support of colonial independence soon thereafter. The newspapers reported effigy hangings and stamp master resignation speeches. Some newspapers were on the royal payroll and supported the Act, but most of the press was free and vocal.

During the French and Indian War (1765063), the fledgling American newspaper industry significantly improved its methods of reporting news. Editors reprinted news and editorials from other papers, thus helping form a sort of national consensus. This made the press an effective voice in opposition to the Stamp Act --which taxed newspapers and almanacs--and in support of colonial independence soon thereafter. The newspapers reported effigy hangings and stamp master resignation speeches. Some newspapers were on the royal payroll and supported the Act, but most of the press was free and vocal.  Thus William Bradford, the leading printer in Philadelphia, led the opposition to British taxes, becoming a leader of the Sons of Liberty.  

==Religion==

==Religion==

For many Americans the revolutionary experience could be conceptualized best within a religious framework. Sermons, orations, poems, newspapers, essays, and other sources of the popular colonial mind reveal that a significant number of Americans continued to perceive God as the prime mover in human history. They gave America's secular development a prominent place in God's moral government of the world. Because of these beliefs, the Stamp Act was viewed as a threat to the fulfillment of America's providential destiny. Americans saw the Act's repeal as a sign of Almighty intervention in support of his favored people.<ref> John G. Berens, "Good News from a far Country: A Note on Divine Providence and the Stamp Act Crisis." ''Church History'' 1976 45(3): 308-315.[http://www.jstor.org/stable/3164265  in JSTOR]</ref>

For many Americans the revolutionary experience could be conceptualized best within a religious framework. Sermons, orations, poems, newspapers, essays, and other sources of the popular colonial mind reveal that a significant number of Americans continued to perceive God as the prime mover in human history. They gave America's secular development a prominent place in God's moral government of the world. Because of these beliefs, the Stamp Act was viewed as a threat to the fulfillment of America's providential destiny. Americans saw the Act's repeal as a sign of Almighty intervention in support of his favored people.<ref> John G. Berens, "Good News from a far Country: A Note on Divine Providence and the Stamp Act Crisis." ''Church History'' 1976 45(3): 308-315.[http://www.jstor.org/stable/3164265  in JSTOR]</ref>

===New Hampshire===

===New Hampshire===

Between January and November 1765, the New Hampshire Provincial Assembly moved from indifference to the intensifying dispute between London and the American colonies to wholehearted endorsement of the colonial resistance. Three events created a climate of change: the exposure of Benning Wentworth's corruption, the [[Sugar Act]], and the transmission of Whig views from other colonies through the press. These events led to a broadly based popular movement against the Stamp Act based not on economics but on the defense of liberty.  

Between January and November 1765, the New Hampshire Provincial Assembly moved from indifference to the intensifying dispute between London and the American colonies to wholehearted endorsement of the colonial resistance. Three events created a climate of change: the exposure of Benning Wentworth's corruption, the [[Sugar Act]], and the transmission of Whig views from other colonies through the press. These events led to a broadly based popular movement against the Stamp Act based not on economics but on the defense of liberty.  

===Rhode Island===

===Rhode Island===

Rhode Island's political and merchant elite organized and manipulated working-class rioters to put pressure on the British

Rhode Island's political and merchant elite organized and manipulated working-class rioters to put pressure on the British

In Virginia lawyer and radical democrat John Mercer's (1705-68) took the lead in opposing the new tax. Mercer heard of the law's passage in April 1765 and immediately published a list of taxed items and rates, prefaced by an incendiary introduction. Mercer's argument against the act was echoed by colonial courts in November, when the law became effective. Citing Chapter 40 of the Magna Carta, which states that legal process may not be sold, Mercer's early protest of the act probably contributed to the passage of the Virginia Resolves in May 1765, which in turn led to similar actions in other colonial legislatures.  

In Virginia lawyer and radical democrat John Mercer's (1705-68) took the lead in opposing the new tax. Mercer heard of the law's passage in April 1765 and immediately published a list of taxed items and rates, prefaced by an incendiary introduction. Mercer's argument against the act was echoed by colonial courts in November, when the law became effective. Citing Chapter 40 of the Magna Carta, which states that legal process may not be sold, Mercer's early protest of the act probably contributed to the passage of the Virginia Resolves in May 1765, which in turn led to similar actions in other colonial legislatures.  

[[Patrick Henry]] helped persuade the Virginia House of Burgesses to adopt in May, 1765, the Virginia Resolves against the Stamp Act: not only did Henry deliver the famous Caesar-Brutus speech; he wrote the Resolves, planned with George Johnston the strategies for debate on the house floor, and spoke at several points in the debate which initiated colonial resistance to the Act, resistance which culminated in the Act's repeal in 1766.  

 

[[Patrick Henry]] (1736–99) helped persuade the Virginia House of Burgesses to adopt in May, 1765, the Virginia Resolves against the Stamp Act: not only did Henry deliver the famous Caesar-Brutus speech; he wrote the Resolves, planned with George Johnston the strategies for debate on the house floor, and spoke at several points in the debate which initiated colonial resistance to the Act, resistance which culminated in the Act's repeal in 1766.  

===North Carolina===

===North Carolina===

The lack of firm police action by the North Carolina royal government against patriots demonstrating their opposition to the Stamp Act in 1766 suggests that weak law enforcement encouraged anti-British activity during the pre-Revolutionary period. Governor William Tryon could not enforce the Stamp Act regulations in the Wilmington area owing to several acts of civil disobedience, including disruption of his inauguration. Law enforcement officers often supported these disturbances themselves or lacked the means to quell them. The precedent for future opposition to new taxes was set.  

The lack of firm police action by the North Carolina royal government against patriots demonstrating their opposition to the Stamp Act in 1766 suggests that weak law enforcement encouraged anti-British activity during the pre-Revolutionary period. Governor William Tryon could not enforce the Stamp Act regulations in the Wilmington area owing to several acts of civil disobedience, including disruption of his inauguration. Law enforcement officers often supported these disturbances themselves or lacked the means to quell them. The precedent for future opposition to new taxes was set.  

 

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Bullion, John L. ''A Great and Necessary Measure: George Grenville and the Genesis of the Stamp Act, 1763-1765.'' (1982). 290 pp.

* Bullion, John L. ''A Great and Necessary Measure: George Grenville and the Genesis of the Stamp Act, 1763-1765.'' (1982). 290 pp.

* Miller

* Miller, John C. ''Origins of the American Revolution.'' (1943). [http://www.questia.com/library/book/origins-of-the-american-revolution-by-john-c-miller.jsp online edition]

* Morgan, Edmund, and Helen Morgan. ''The Stamp Act Crisis'' (2nd ed. 1963), the standard history [http://www.amazon.com/Stamp-Act-Crisis-Prologue-Revolution/dp/0807845132/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253433965&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

* Morgan, Edmund, and Helen Morgan. ''The Stamp Act Crisis'' (2nd ed. 1963), the standard history [http://www.amazon.com/Stamp-Act-Crisis-Prologue-Revolution/dp/0807845132/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253433965&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

===Primary sources===

===Primary sources===

* Morgan

* Morgan