Stamp Act
This legislation was the first direct tax imposed by Britain on the American colonies. It required that many printed materials in the colonies, such as newspapers, legal documents, licenses, and even playing cards, carry a tax stamp showing that the tax had been paid. The revenue from this tax was intended to help pay for the British troops stationed in North America after the Seven Years’ War.
The Stamp Act sparked significant outrage among the American colonists. They viewed it as an unprecedented direct tax imposed without their consent, violating the principle of “no taxation without representation.” The Stamp Act affected a wide range of people, including printers, lawyers, merchants, and everyday citizens, as it impacted many aspects of daily life.