Stamp Act — Entries and Articles
These articles discuss the history of the Stamp Act and explain how the American Colonies protested the controversial bill’s rules, regulations, and taxes, which taxed nearly all documents printed in America.
Stamp Act
- Stamp Act — History and Overview
- Stamp Act Facts — Dates, Statistics, and Effects
- Salutary Neglect — Dates, Events, and Examples
Stamp Act Congress
Stamp Act Crisis — Key People
- Samuel Adams
- Francis Bernard
- Christopher Gadsden
- George Grenville
- Patrick Henry
- Stephen Hopkins
- Thomas Hutchinson
- James Otis
Stamp Act Crisis — Key Groups
Stamp Act — Primary Documents
Stamp Act, Original Text
The Stamp Act received Royal Assent from King George III on March 22, 1765. It led to violent riots and unrest in the colonies and was a significant cause of the American Revolution.
Massachusetts House of Representatives, Call for Congress
On June 8, 1765, the Massachusetts House of Representatives sent a letter to the legislatures of the other colonies and asked them to send representatives to a meeting in New York in October. The meeting was to discuss legislation passed by Parliament that levied taxes on the colonies. The meeting came to be known as the Stamp Act Congress.
Stamp Act Congress, Declaration of Rights and Grievances
On October 19, 1765, the Stamp Act Congress passed the “Declaration of Rights and Grievances,” which claimed that American colonists were guaranteed the same rights as other British citizens, protested taxation without representation, and argued Parliament did not have the authority to levy taxes on the colonies.
Stamp Act Repeal
Parliament repealed the Stamp Act on March 18, 1766. The same day, Parliament passed the Declaratory Act, asserting its authority to pass laws governing the colonies.
Stamp Act Crisis — Resolutions Protesting the Stamp Act
Massachusetts
On October 29, 1765, the Massachusetts Assembly passed 14 resolutions in opposition to the Stamp Act of 1765.
Rhode Island
On September 15, 1765, the Rhode Island Assembly passed a set of resolutions in opposition to the Stamp Act.
Connecticut
The Connecticut Resolutions on the Stamp Act were printed in the Massachusetts Gazette on December 19, 1765, and in the Connecticut Courant on December 30, 1765. They were also passed at a meeting held by the Sons of Liberty on December 10, 1765.
New York
On October 31, 1765, New York merchants passed a non-importation agreement that included four resolutions opposing the Stamp Act of 1765.
New Jersey
On November 30, 1765, the New Jersey Assembly passed 11 resolutions in opposition to the Stamp Act of 1765.
Pennsylvania
On September 21, 1765, the Pennsylvania Assembly passed a set of resolutions in opposition to the Stamp Act.
Virginia
On May 29, 1765, the Virginia House of Burgesses passed a set of resolutions in opposition to the Stamp Act. It was the first set of resolutions passed by any of the colonial legislatures.
Leedstown, Westmoreland County, Virginia
The Leedstown Resolves were signed by residents of Westmoreland Country on February 27, 1766. The resolves established the Westmoreland Association, which obstructed the enforcement of the Stamp Act.
South Carolina
On November 29, 1765, the South Carolina Assembly passed 18 resolutions in opposition to the Stamp Act of 1765.
