Stamp Act, 1765: Colonial America protests British Parliament | American Revolution era | US History
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Published 2023-06-02
Why was the Stamp Act important?
The Stamp Act was an attempt by British Parliament to raise revenue in colonial America following the long French and Indian War, or Seven Years War.
King George III was the monarch, while George Grenville was Prime Minister. Thomas Whately drafted the Stamp Act and presented it to Parliament in 1765.
The House of Commons voted for the act, followed by the House of Lords. The Stamp Act passed in March, 1765.
The Stamp Act provisioned tax duties on paper documents in America. All legal deeds, mortgages, newspapers, almanacs, licenses, and other certificates were to be taxed.
The taxes were embossed on the documents.
However, before the act becomes law on November, 1, 1765, protest erupts in the colonies. In Parliament, Isaac Barre warns the House of Commons that the Americans hold dearly to their liberties. William Pitt also sided with the colonists.
Americans paid taxes to colonial assemblies, but the Stamp Act was a direct tax by Parliament, something new.
Patrick Henry called for a refusal of all taxes from Parliament in the House of Burgesses in Williamsburg, Virginia. Stamp officers are intimidated.
The Stamp Act is a total failure for Britain. The Act is repealed in March, 1766. However, Parliament issues the Declaratory Act, with declares Parliament the supreme power in the British Empire.
Music credit: "Mongrel Dance" by Dan Bodan.
Bibliography:
The Long Fuse by Don Cook
British Subministers and Colonial America by Franklin Wickwire
Images:
Library of Congress
Met Museum
National Gallery of Art
A short film by Jeffrey Meyer
Writer, researcher, historian, librarian
All Comments (21)
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Your history lessons are exactly what I love and need. You have such a talent for providing a concise and condensed synopsis of a particular event or time period. Keep up the great work. Much appreciated.
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No Taxation without Direct Representation! No virtual representation allowed!
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Another clear, straightforward and entirely comprehensible video. Next, please.
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Another good one Jeffrey! Thank you.
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I was just looking forward to your next upload, and lo and behold, it appears! In all of your videos, I feel like I gain a more intimate knowledge of these major events that often get glossed over in a more general look at the period. I appreciate the granular approach you take and your matter-of-fact oration style. Thank you Jeffrey!
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Excellent video on this important harbinger of the American Revolution.
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Great content as always! Keep it up!
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Such an informational video. Maybe a few less stock clips do the trick. But I really enjoyed the research done. Keep up the great work!
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Love your depth and detail. Thank you!
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Great video! Thanks for the history lesson.
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Good information. It got me to look up Death without the benefit of clergy. Interesting piece of history I was previously unaware of.
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Jeffrey is the best. Always look forward to any videos
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Good info and well presented! Just a quick note. I believe it's pronounced vellum with a hard V. Thanks for these great American history videos.
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Thanks! I'd love to see coverage on some of the other mercantilist policies imposed on the colonies. Like only allowed to buy "finished goods" from UK, only allowed to sell raw materials to UK. Not even allowed to have sterling coins - which is why the Spanish dollar/silver/piece-of-eight is used so much, and even paper money tried. I think a big part of the discontent with "virtual" representation, is that the UK based reps did not have to live with these colonial legal restrictions.
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Sorry I didn't get to this until today, but again you've made a wonderful film. I love learning the little details about our history. I had no idea that William Pitt actually sided with the colonies or that we had some allies in Parliament. I had no idea how crippling the tax was. No wonder we tried every excuse not to pay it.
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👍Usual impeccable treatment. Qns: How much of the Stamp Act revenue was to be used to pay for the British forces in America and how much to pay off the British national debt? And were the British forces in what was to become Canada included in the payment structure? BTW: Stamp Tax (known as Stamp Duty) is still due in the UK if you buy/sell property and shares/securities.
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The picture becomes clearer for me.
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How did the Canadian colonies react? I really don't think that this discriminatory act would fly today. Even this current Supreme Court would outlaw it.
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Did no one in Parliment think of extending representation to the colonies? Say, two members from each colony or plantation?
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42!
