CR - The Stamp Act Flashcards
What is the Stamp Act of 1765?
- The first direct internal tax
- Taxed a range of items, including newspapers, pamphlets, legal documents, wills, playing cards etc.
- Items would have to prove the tax had been payed through revenue stamps (which were sold directly by government-appointed distributors)
What was the overarching motivation for Britain in imposing the tax?
- Demonstration of parliamentary sovereignty (parliament had absolute legislative authority to decide what went on in the colonies)
What was the overarching motivation for the colonies in their opposition to the imposition of the tax?
- Liberties as British subjects (as British subjects, the colonists had the right to govern their internal affairs through their representative assemblies
Who drafted the Virginia Resolves?
Patrick Henry
What were the Virginia Resolves? (what did they proclaim)?
A series of resolutions drafted by Patrick Henry passed in May 1765, by the Virginia House of Burgesses (legislative assembly) in response to the Stamp Act.
The resolutions proclaimed:
- The first settlers brought with them the rights and liberties enjoyed by the people of GB
- All colonists were entitled to all the rights and liberties of natural citizens as in they resided in GB
- Taxation of the people by themselves is the only security against unreasonable taxation and is the distinguishing characteristic of the British constitution
- The assembly of the Virginia colony has the only and exclusive right to lay taxes upon the inhabitants of the colony
How many colonial assemblies published similar resolutions to the Virginia resolves?
By the end of 1765, 8 colonial assemblies passed similar resolutions.
Which colonial assembly organised the Stamp Act Congress?
Massachusetts
What was the purpose of The Stamp Act Congress?
To meet to discuss a unified protest against the Stamp Act and other British measures since 1763
Who was the driving force behind the Stamp Act Congress?
James Otis
What did the Stamp Act Congress issue at the end of October?
A Declaration of Rights and Grievances
What did the colonies ‘Declaration of Rights and Grievances’ proclaim?
- Their loyalty to the crown
- Their possession of all the rights of Englishmen
- That parliament could not represent the colonists without voting rights
- That only representatives chosen by colonists could levy taxes and therefore the Stamp Act was unconstitutional
- Opposition to the use of the vice-admiralty courts when trial by jury was a right afforded to all Englishmen
- The negative impact of such measures which would reduce trade (and negatively impact British manufacturers)
What did the Stamp Act congress encourage?
For the colonies to adopt boycotts and non-importation agreements relating to British goods (The sons of liberty helped to promote these further)
When was the Stamp Act repealed?
1766
What act was passed the exact same day as the repeal of the stamp act?
The Declaratory Act
What was the Declaratory Act?
- The act made it clear that Parliament had not abandoned its right to legislate or tax the colonies
- To affirm this, the Act asserted that the colonies were subordinate to the ‘Crown and Parliament of Great Britain’ and that Parliament of Great Britain’, and that Parliament had full authority to make laws.
