stamp act study Flashcards
What was the Stamp Act?
The Stamp Act was a law passed by the British Parliament in 1765 that required American colonists to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used.
Why did the British government pass the Stamp Act?
The British passed the Stamp Act to raise money to help pay off the debt from the French and Indian War and to fund British troops stationed in North America.
What types of items were taxed under the Stamp Act?
Newspapers, pamphlets, licenses, legal documents, playing cards, and other printed materials.
How did the colonists react to the Stamp Act?
The colonists were very angry; they protested, boycotted British goods, and argued that it was “taxation without representation.”
What does the term “taxation without representation” mean?
It means being taxed by a government without having a voice or representatives in that government.
What were the Sons of Liberty?
The Sons of Liberty was a group formed by American colonists to protest against the Stamp Act and other British policies. They organized demonstrations and intimidated tax collectors.
What was the Stamp Act Congress?
The Stamp Act Congress was a meeting of representatives from several American colonies in 1765 to discuss opposition to the Stamp Act.
What was the outcome of the Stamp Act Congress?
They issued a “Declaration of Rights and Grievances,” stating that only colonial assemblies had the right to tax the colonies, not the British Parliament.
What eventually happened to the Stamp Act?
Due to widespread protests and economic pressure from the boycotts, the British Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766.
