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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 slavery and 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 slavery and not worth living. "Give me Liberty," cried [[Patrick Henry]] in 1775, "or give me death!"

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to tar and feather the tax collectors (who quickly resigned), then boycotted all British goods until the tax was repealed a year later.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

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to tar and feather the tax collectors (who quickly resigned), then boycotted all British goods until the tax was repealed a year later.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

The Stamp Act had been under discussion for a year before it passed, allowing the Americans time to develop their ideas before it was announced in sprint 1765.  The responses were immediate and very loud.

The Stamp Act had been under discussion for a year before it passed, allowing the Americans time to develop their ideas before it was announced in sprint 1765.  The responses were immediate and very loud.

===Sons of Liberty===

===Sons of Liberty===

The "Sons of Liberty" were secret organizations formed in each colony to organize opposition to the Stamp Act. The name came from a phrase used in a speech against the Stamp Act in Parliament. The leaders were merchants, businessmen, lawyers, journalists, and others who would be most affected by the Stamp Act. The leaders included John Lamb and Alexander McDougall in New York, and [[Samuel Adams]] and [[James Otis]] in New England. The societies kept in touch with each other through committees of correspondence, supported the nonimportation agreement, forced the resignation of stamp distributors, and incited destruction of stamped paper and threatened violence against British officials.  

The "[[Sons of Liberty]]" were secret organizations formed in each colony to organize opposition to the Stamp Act. The name came from a phrase used in a speech against the Stamp Act in Parliament. The leaders were merchants, businessmen, lawyers, journalists, and others who would be most affected by the Stamp Act. The leaders included John Lamb and Alexander McDougall in New York, and [[Samuel Adams]] and [[James Otis]] in New England. The societies kept in touch with each other through committees of correspondence, supported the nonimportation agreement, forced the resignation of stamp distributors, and incited destruction of stamped paper and threatened violence against British officials.  

===Newspapers===

===Newspapers===

During the French and Indian War (1765-63), the fledgling American newspaper industry comprised only 24 papers, but it had 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.  

During the French and Indian War (1765-63), the fledgling American newspaper industry comprised only 24 papers, but it had 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.  

==Florida==

==Florida==

The Stamp Act produced widespread public criticism in remote, underpopulated West Florida. However, Governor George Johnstone vigorously enforced the Act and serious opposition failed to materialize, chiefly because of the scattered population and primitive economic conditions.  The two British colonies of West Florida and East Florida did not join the other 13 colonies in 1776; they remained loyal. In 1783 Britain gave the two colonies to Spain and the British living there were expelled. Eventually the U.S. purchased the two colonies from Spain in 1819.

The Stamp Act produced widespread public criticism in remote, underpopulated West Florida. However, Governor George Johnstone vigorously enforced the Act and serious opposition failed to materialize, chiefly because of the scattered population and primitive economic conditions.  The two British colonies of West Florida and East Florida did not join the other 13 colonies in 1776; they remained loyal. In 1783 Britain gave the two colonies to Spain and the British living there were expelled. Eventually the U.S. purchased the two colonies from Spain in 1819.

==See also==

==See also==

* [[No taxation without representation]]

* [[No taxation without representation]]

==Further reading==

==Further reading==