Changes

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.  More than that: an illegal tax was an assault on property and liberty, and the two concepts were interlocked in the American mind. Property and liberty were one and inseparable, and without them life was not worth living. "Give me Liberty," cried [[Patrick Henry]] in 1775, "or give me death!"

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.  More than that: an illegal tax was an assault on property and liberty, and the two concepts were interlocked in the American mind. Property and liberty were one and inseparable, and without them life was not worth living. "Give me Liberty," cried [[Patrick Henry]] in 1775, "or give me death!"

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to tar and feather the tax collectors (who quickly resigned), then boycotted all British goods until the tax was repealed a year later.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.

American opposition to the Stamp Act was fierce and nearly unanimous, led by the newly formed "Sons of Liberty" organizations 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to tar and feather the tax collectors (who quickly resigned), then boycotted all British goods until the tax was repealed a year later.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.

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.