Reading Like a Historian Guiding Questions Stamp Act
On March 22, 1765, the British Parliament passed the "Stamp Human activity" to help pay for British troops stationed in the colonies during the Seven Years' War. The human action required the colonists to pay a tax, represented past a stamp, on diverse forms of papers, documents, and playing cards. It was a direct revenue enhancement imposed past the British government without the blessing of the colonial legislatures and was payable in hard-to-obtain British sterling, rather than colonial currency. Further, those accused of violating the Postage stamp Act could be prosecuted in Vice-Admiralty Courts, which had no juries and could be held anywhere in the British Empire.
Important dates in the Stamp Act Crisis
- March 22, 1765: British Parliament passes the "Stamp Act."
- October 1765: Delegates from nine colonies meet in New York City in what has go known equally the Stamp Act Congress, the first united action by the colonies; the congress acknowledges that while Parliament has a correct to regulate colonial merchandise, information technology does not have the ability to tax the colonies since they were unrepresented in Parliament.
- November 1, 1765: The Stamp Act goes into effect in the colonies.
- March 1766: Colonial resistance to the Stamp Act and pressure from London merchants prompt Parliament to abolish the Postage Human action.
- March 1766: Parliament issues the Declaratory Human activity, which states that the king and Parliament accept full legislative power over the colonies.
Excerpts
King George Three, An Act for granting and applying certain postage duties, 1765
An deed for granting and applying certain stamp duties, and other duties, in the British colonies and plantations in America, towards farther defraying the expences of defending, protecting, and securing the same; and for amending such parts of the several acts of parliament relating to the trade and revenues of the said colonies and plantations, as straight the mode of determining and recovering the penalties and forfeitures therein mentioned.
WHEREAS by an act made in the last session of parliament, several duties were granted, connected, and appropriated, towards defraying the expences of defending, protecting, and securing, the British colonies and plantations in America: and whereas it is simply and necessary, that provision be made for raising a further acquirement within your Majesty's dominions in America, towards defraying the said expences: we, your Majesty's almost dutiful and loyal subjects, the commons of Great Great britain in parliament assembled, have therefore resolved to give and grant unto your Majesty the several rates and duties herein after mentioned; and practice most humbly beseech your Majesty that it may exist enacted, and be it enacted past the King'south well-nigh excellent majesty, by and with the communication and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That from and after the offset day of Nov, one thousand seven hundred and sixty five, at that place shall be raised, levied, collected, and paid unto his Majesty, his heirs, and successors, throughout the colonies and plantations in America which at present are, or hereafter may be, nether the rule of his Majesty, his heirs and successors,
For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or slice of paper, on which shall exist ingrossed, written, or printed, any licence, appointment, or admission of whatever counsellor, solicitor, chaser, advocate, or proctor, to do in any court, or of any notary within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of ten pounds.
For every skin or slice of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of newspaper, on which shall be ingrossed, written, or printed, any annotation or beak of lading, which shall be signed for any kind of goods, wares, or merchandize, to be exported from . . . within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of four pence.
For every pare or piece of vellum or parchment, or sail or piece of paper, on which shall be ingrossed, written, or printed, whatever licence for retailing of wine, to exist granted to whatsoever person who shall have out a licence for retailing of spirituous liquors, within the said colonies and plantations, a postage stamp duty of three pounds,
For every skin or slice of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of newspaper, on which shall be ingrossed, written, or printed, whatever notarial act, bond, act, letter, of attorney, procuration, mortgage, release, or other obligatory instrument, not herein before charged, inside the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of two shillings and three pence.
And for and upon every pack of playing cards, and all dice, which shall be sold or used within the said colonies and plantations, the several stamp duties following (that is to say)
For every pack of such cards, the sum of one shilling.
And for every pair of such die, the sum of ten shillings.
And for and upon every paper, commonly called a pamphlet, and upon every newspaper, containing publick news, intelligence, or occurrences, which shall exist printed, dispersed, and made publick, inside whatsoever of the said colonies and plantations, and for and upon such advertisements as are herein after mentioned, the respective duties following (that is to say)
For every other almanack or agenda for any 1 particular twelvemonth, which shall be written or printed within the said colonies or plantations, a stamp duty of four pence. . . .
A copy of the excerpts is available.
Source: https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/spotlight-primary-source/stamp-act-1765
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