Joey

The Stamp Act By: Joey

In 1765 a year after the sugar act became a law Britain passed another tax law for the colonies, called the Stamp Act. The law placed a tax on newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets, all kind of legal documents, insurances policies, licenses and even playing cards. Each of those items had to have a special stamp on it to show the tax had been paid. Because Britain new that the colonist would be angry about the tax, they hired some colonist to be tax collectors. But what really upset the colonist was that they had no say in deciding what laws where passed. They didn't have a voice to represent them because no one was acting or speaking in London where the British Parliament, the people who made the laws, was. A man, James Otis, spoke out to a crowd in Boston that they should refuse to pay the stamp tax until they had representation in the British Parliament. The colonist soon began repeating his words, //"No taxation without representation."// In Virginia, Patrick Henry told his fellow members of the House of Burgesses that they should decide what laws the Virginians should pay. Henry said that the Parliament did not represent the colonies. The colonies had their own legislatures to represent them. Member of the House of Burgesses who supported the British government shouted "Treason" during Patrick Henry's speech. By accusing Henry of treason, they were saying that he was working against his government. Henry is said to have answered, //"If this is treason, make the most of it!"// Although some members protested the decision, the House of Burgesses voted against paying any new taxes Parliament passed unless the colonist gave their consent. More and more people in the 13 colonies decided not to buy goods that had been stamped. Many colonist also began to boycott, or refuse to buy, any British goods. So in Boston, groups of women made thread and cloth so that colonist would not have to buy cloth that had been made in Britain. In some colonies, the people began drinking tea made from the local sassafras trees instead of buying tea from Britain. Some colonist attacked in more violent ways. They attacked the homes of tax collectors, breaking windows and stealing property. They beat some tax collectors and ran them out of their cities or towns.