The Stamp Act

Creator
George Grenville, Chief Minister to King George lll

Context
Passed by the British Parliament in 1765, the Stamp Act was an attempt to reduce Britain's national debt by making the colonies pay a share of taxes.

Audience
Colonists in the British colonies

Purpose
The Stamp Act was intended to help defray the cost of stationing British troops in the North American colonies, rather than just regulating trade. The act placed a tariff on various goods produced by the colonists, such as newspapers, almanacs, playing cards, and liquor licenses.

Historical Significance
The Stamp Act came right on the heels of the 1764 Sugar Act, causing dramatic reactions from the colonists, including riots and a boycott of British goods. In response, nine colonies assembled in October 1765 to discuss opposition to the Stamp Act, resulting in "The Declaration of Rights of the Stamp Act Congress."

An act for granting and applying certain stamp duties, and other duties, in the British colonies and plantations in America, towards further defraying the expences of defending, protecting, and securing the same; and for amending such parts of the several acts of parliament relating to the trade and revenues of the said colonies and plantations, as direct the manner of determining and recovering the penalties and forfeitures therein mentioned.

WHEREAS by an act made in the last session of parliament, several duties were granted, continued, and appropriated, towards defraying the expences of defending, protecting, and securing, the British colonies and plantations in America: and whereas it is just and necessary, that provision be made for raising a further revenue within your Majesty's dominions in America, towards defraying the said expences: we, your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the commons of Great Britain in parliament assembled, have therefore resolved to give and grant unto your Majesty the several rates and duties herein after mentioned; and do most humbly beseech your Majesty that it may be enacted, and be it enacted by the King's most excellent majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That from and after the first day of November, one thousand seven hundred and sixty five, there shall be raised, levied, collected, and paid unto his Majesty, his heirs, and successors, throughout the colonies and plantations in America which now are, or hereafter may be, under the dominion of his Majesty, his heirs and successors,

George Grenville, THE STAMP ACT (1765). Courtesy of the Library of Congress.