The Stamp Act Because Of War With France
The British Parliament enacted Stamp Act in 1765 to aid in replenishing finances following the increase of massive debts associated with the Seven Years’ War with France (History.com Editors (b)). Some of the revenue arising from the Stamp Act helped to finance the British regiments in the US. Further, the revenue collected would also be used to meet the expenses of the defense of protection of the British colonies and plantations in America.
The Stamp Act required the colonists to pay a tax on printed publications and papers such as newspapers, shipment papers, legal documents, and licenses. London was to supply the stamped material that was to be employed in printing of documents in the US (History.com Editors (b)). The British hard currency was to be used in making all purchases of the stamped papers. The Stamp Act not only introduced exorbitant taxes, but it was also offensive in the setting of standards. While taxes and duties imposed previously on colonial trade sought to regulate commerce, the Stamp Act focused on raising revenue where anyone who violated the new law would face prosecution and recovery of the amount not paid in that particular colony (History.com Editors (b)).
The Stamp Act was infuriating in that it appeared as a determination by the British Empire to raise revenues from North America without seeking the colonial lawmakers' consent. The colonists feared that not challenging the colonizers for passing such a law would empower them to pass more painful tax laws. This is clear from the diary of John Adams, who protested the Stamp Act by arguing that it was necessary to repeal the new law as it would inevitably lead to the destruction of North America (National Humanities Center (a) 4). In a letter to Frances Dandridge, George Washington perceives the Stamp Act as a direct attack and violation of the colonists' liberties (National Humanities Center (a) 4).
The convening of the merchants of associations, Virginia House of Burgesses, and colonial assemblies in 1765 resulted from the Stamp Act. The colonists resolved that they had similar rights to the colonizers. This included the right to have their representatives voted by the Virginia House of Burgesses tax them rather than foreigners or aliens as their representatives were aware of the degree of tax they were able to bear (National Humanities Center (a) 13). The colonists resorted to boycotts and violence to advocate for the resignation of stamp collectors. The taxation as well as representation matters covered in the Stamp Act caused friction and tension between colonizers and the colonists.
Colonists engaged in popular resistance against the Stamp Act in Boston and New York. In Boston, the Sons of Liberty paraded through the streets and pushed Andrew Oliver to resign his duties of stamp distribution. Colonists reacted to the Stamp Act by carrying banners across the streets of New York, reading, “The Folly of England, the Ruin of America' through the streets of New York” (History.com Editors (b)).
