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The '''Stamp Act of 1765''' was legislation passed by the British Parliament that caused enormous outcry in America until it was repealed a year later, setting in action a chain of taxes and imperial overreach that caused the Americans to revolt in 1775. The new law required that all legal documents, customs papers, 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; lawsuits and newspapers were hardest hit--a small matter in Britain where lawsuits and newspapers were far less common than in the colonies.

The '''Stamp Act of 1765''' was legislation passed by the British Parliament that caused enormous outcry in America until it was repealed a year later, setting in action a chain of taxes and imperial overreach that caused the Americans to revolt in 1775. The new law required that all legal documents, customs papers, 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; lawsuits and newspapers were hardest hit--a small matter in Britain where lawsuits and newspapers were far less common than in the colonies.

Parliament passed this act to pay for 10,000 soldiers in 20 battalions that were to be stationed in Canada and Indian territories--not in the American colonies. The Americans did not need the soldiers for protection--they were stationed outside Britain to provide prestigious officerships for British gentlemen, who could not be stationed in Britain itself because of opposition there to standing armies.   

The main British goal was not so much revenue as a demonstration of the supremacy of Parliament in all matters; the main American objection was not the cost, but the assertion of the supremacy of Parliament to tax Americans. Originally the British goal was to fund 10,000 soldiers in 20 battalions that were to be stationed in Canada and Indian territories--not in the American colonies. The Americans did not need the soldiers for protection--they were to be stationed outside Britain to provide prestigious officerships for British gentlemen, who could not be stationed in Britain itself because of opposition there to standing armies.   

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. The protests 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.   

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. The protests 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.