The Stamp Act 1765. The Stamp Act Seven Years War was very expensive for Britain British thought it only fair the colonists pay Colonists had been evading.

The Stamp Act1765

The Stamp Act

‘Seven Years War’ was very expensive for Britain

British thought it only fair the colonists pay

Colonists had been evading other taxes

Stamp Act became law March 22nd 1765

'Historian Hugh Brogan believes that "The Stamp Act was a catalyst, touching off fundamental change." Is this view correct?'

"No taxation without representation"

Common thought and common action

The repeal of the Stamp Act: a win for the colonists

“No taxation without representation”

“The last war is commonly spoke of as entered into for the defense, or for the sake of the people of America; I think it is quite misunderstood… We had no particular concern or interest in that dispute"

- Benjamin Franklin, 1766.

The Seven Years War "was strictly Britain's war and fought for selfish purposes… they were not under the slightest obligation to the mother country“

– James Dickinson, 1768.

“it was asserted to be an infraction upon the natural inherent constitutional rights of Englishmen, wheresoever they might be"

– historian Hugh Egerton,1923.

“The very act of taxing exercised over those who are not represented appears to me to be depriving them of one of their most essential rights as freemen, and if continued seems to be in effect an entire disfranchisement of every civil right…”

– James Otis, 1763.

“No taxation without representation.”

Common thought and common action

"The Stamp Act outraged the colonists, rich and poor alike, and proved to be an affront which united them in defiance of the British government.”

– historian H.R. Cowie, 1996

"The Stamp Act was printed and cried about the streets of New York under the title 'the folly of England and the ruin of America”’

– historian Hugh Egerton, 1923.

The Stamp Act Congress, 1765• Discuss "the most essential rights and liberties

Of the colonists, and of the grievances under which they labor, by reason of several late Acts of Parliament"

• It had "a manifest tendency to subvert the rights and liberties of the colonists”

• The solution was "no taxes be imposed on them, but with their own consent, given personally, or by their representatives."

"it may be regarded as the opening move in the steps towards revolution”

– historian H.R Cowie, 1996

The repeal of the Stamp Act: a win for the colonists

“A great deal has been said … of the strength of America. It is a topic that ought to be cautiously meddled with. In a good cause, on a sound bottom, the force of this country can crush America to atoms… But on this ground, on the Stamp Act, when so many here will think a crying injustice, I am one who will lift up my hands against it. In such a cause, your success would be hazardous. America, if she fell, would fall like a strong man. She would embrace the pillars of the state, and pull down the constitution along with her.”

– William Pitt, 1766.

“The choice, in all ugliness, was between war and abdication: there was no room for compromise”

– historian Hugh Brogan, 2001

Britain "suffered a loss of prestige in the New World that was never to be regained"

- historian Lawrence Gipson, 1962.

“It had hushed into silence almost every popular clamor and composed every wave of popular disorder into a smooth and peaceful calm”

– John Adams, 1766

The Stamp Act outraged the colonists; they began to question British dominance and the slogan ‘no taxation without representation’ arose.

This anger united the colonists, who were inspired into common action; this made the division between them and Britain clear.

This united affront caused the British to repeal the act, and the colonists realised their power which bolstered their confidence and propelled them forward.

Conclusion

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