The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act, which was passed by the British Parliament in March of 1765, required all American colonists to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper that they used. Papers that were used daily such as newspapers, legal documents, and playing cards were also included. The money collected was used to help pay off the costs of protecting the American frontier near the Appalachian Mountains.
The issue with the Stamp Act was not the cost. It was because it was an attempt by England to raise money in the colonies without the approval of the colonial legislatures. The colonists believed that if this tax was allowed to pass with no resistance, then there would be more unnecessary taxation that would come in the future. The stamp act had a positive effect for the colonists because it caused the colonists become bolder when it came to expressing how they felt about political issues.
This led to the common phrase at the time, "no taxation without representation" and an uproar in American colonies. As a result, a man named Patrick Henry proposed seven resolutions against the stamp act, and the first four were adopted by the House of Burgesses.
Items that were relevant to the stamp act and are included in this collection:
Stamp Act Box, 1766: was used after the stamp act was over
No stamp act teapot: a representation of how people felt about the stamp act
Patrick Henry delivering his celebrated speech in the House of Burgesses, Virginia (photomechanical print)
Stamp from the stamp act of 1765
1p stamp of 1765 proof: a stamp used in this time period
Carter Braxton- a member of the House of Burgesses
Patrick Henry sculpture
4c Patrick Henry quote single
Appalachian Evening (painting) : the area of the country that the profit of the stamp act would pay to protect
"The Virginia Gazette" Newspaper: example of something that would be taxed
Source used in the intro: