What was the Stamp Act of 1765?

The Stamp Act of 1765 was a tax imposed by the British government on the American colonies. The act required that many printed materials in the colonies be produced on stamped paper produced in London, carrying an embossed revenue stamp. These printed materials included legal documents, magazines, newspapers, and many other types of paper used throughout the colonies.

This act was created primarily to increase revenue for Britain to pay for the troops stationed in North America following the British victory in the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War. The Stamp Act was very unpopular among colonists because it was seen as a direct attempt by England to raise money in the colonies without the approval of the colonial legislatures. If the money could be raised without going through the colonial legislatures, it could call into question the very autonomy of the colonies.

The opposition to the Stamp Act took several forms, including protests, boycotts of British goods, and the convening of the Stamp Act Congress, which petitioned against the Act and helped organize colonial resistance. The slogan "No taxation without representation" became a rallying cry against the Stamp Act and other forms of taxation without direct representation in the British Parliament.

The widespread resistance to the Stamp Act led to its repeal in 1766. However, the conflict over taxation and representation set the stage for the escalating tensions that eventually resulted in the American Revolution.