Stamp ActWhy were colonists so angry about the Stamp Act?

Was the colonial response JUSTIFIED or did they OVERREACT?

Historical Context:In the mid-1750s, longstanding tensions between the English and French

erupted into war. Over the course of the previous 150 years, the English had settled along the eastern coast of North America and the French in the Mississippi River valley and Canada. Competition for a North American empire and the construction of new forts in the interior of the continent in the 1740s and early 1750s led to the outbreak of hostilities known in America as the French and Indian war. The French had close Indian allies, as did the British.

At the conclusion of the war in 1763, the British army, with help from colonial militia,had prevailed. Britain gained vast French territory from the Appalachian Mountains to theMississippi River. In the years after the war, British leaders were faced with a crushing debt. The war in America, as well as fighting in Europe, had depleted the treasury, and the government needed a way to generate revenue. The way King George III and Parliament saw the situation, the colonists deserved to pay their fair share of the war costs. Paying very small taxes, in their view, was the least colonists could do to show their appreciation for the help of the mother country in ridding the continent of the French presence. The colonists, however, felt much differently about the taxes that Parliament passed without their consent. Previously, colonists had passed their own taxes through their own representative bodies; the British government had not directly taxed them. Further, colonists had enjoyed vast freedoms in purchasing desirable goods and had, in some cases, gone into considerable debt. New taxes alarmed colonists concerned about government control and personal debt.When the first of these taxes, the Stamp Act (so called because of a stamp that was to be affixed to all sorts of paper goods, such as newspapers, playing cards, and legal documents) was passed in 1765, there was an uproar throughout Boston and the rest of the colonies. The slogan of "No Taxation without Representation" was born and widely repeated. Ordinary citizens, who had never voiced political concerns in the past, began to rally. Some formed groups like the Sons of Liberty, others harassed stamp collectors, and still others signed agreements to boycott British goods. In these protest movements, the first seeds of serious unrest were planted; further taxes fueled the rebellious mood.

Source 1: “The Stamp Act” from King George and British Parliament on March 19, 1765. Source Taken From The Library of Congress.

Read these notes before you read the Act. :

1. The text below is highly condensed and extracted. The original Stamp Act would take up 21 typewritten pages, single spaced and in the standard print.

2. Vellum and parchment are expensive printing materials made from animal skins (sheep, lamb, or calf). They were more lasting then ordinary paper and were generally used for important documents, like royal proclamations and college diplomas. This is why college diplomas are often referred to as “sheepskins,” even though they are no longer printed on this material.

“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.

For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be ingrossed, written or printed, any declaration, plea, replication, rejoinder, demurrer, or other pleading, or any copy thereof, in any court of law within the British colonies and plantations in America.

… any special bail and appearance upon such.

… any petition, bill, answer, claim, plea, replication, rejoinder, demurrer, or other pleading in any court of chancery or equity [civil court].

For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall

… any libel, answer, allegation, inventory, or renunciation in ecclesiastical matters in any court of probate, court of the ordinary.

… any copy of any will (other than the probate thereof).

… any register, entry, testimonial, or certificate of any degree taken in any university, academy, college, or seminary of learning.

…any pleading, in any admiralty court [courts regulating trade].

… any writ of covenant for levying of fines.

… any judgment, decree, sentence, or dismission, or any record of Nisi Prius or Postea, in any court within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of four shillings.

… any affidavit, common bail or appearance, interrogatory deposition, rule, order, or warrant of any court.

… any licence, appointment, or admission of any counsellor, solicitor, attorney, advocate, or proctor, to practice in any court, or of any notary.

… any note or bill of lading [shipping manifest], which shall be signed for any kind of goods, wares, or merchandize, to be exported.

… any grant, appointment, or admission of or to any publick beneficial office or (except commissions and appointments of officers of the army, navy, ordnance, or militia, of judges, and of justices of the peace).

… any licence for retailing of spirituous liquors.

… any licence for retailing wine.

… any probate of a will, letters of administration, or of guardianship for any estate above the value of twenty pounds sterling money.

… any bond for securing the payment of any sum of money [a sliding scale based on the amount of money].

… any deed or other instrument whatsoever, by which any quantity of land be granted, conveyed, or assigned [a sliding scale based on the size of the parcel].

… any indenture [labor contract], lease, conveyance, contract, stipulation, bill of sale, charter party, protest, articles of apprenticeship, or covenant.

… any passport, or let-pass, surrender of officer, or policy of assurance.

… any notarial act, bond, deed, letter, of attorney, procuration, mortgage, release, or other obligatory instrument.

… every pack of playing cards, and all dice.

… any pamphlet, and upon every news paper, containing publick news, intelligence, or occurrences, which shall be printed, dispersed, and made publick, within any of the said colonies and plantations.

… every advertisement to be contained in any gazette, news paper, or other paper, or any pamphlet.

… every almanack or calendar.

… every deed, instrument, note, memorandum, letter, or other instrument or writing, for or relating to the payment of any sum of money, or for making any valuable consideration for or upon the loss of any ship, vessel, goods, wages, money, effects, or upon any loss by fire, or for any other loss whatsoever.

… every deed, instrument, note, memorandum, letter, or other minument or writing, between the captain or master or owner of any ship or vessel, and any merchant, trader, or other person, in respect to the freight or conveyance of any money, goods, wares, merchandizes, or effects, laden or to be laden on board of any such ship or vessel.”

1. List a few things that the British Parliament wanted to tax for the Stamp Act? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. In your opinion, do you think these are too many items to be directly taxed? Why?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Source 2: “Tarring & Feathering.” October 31st, 1774 in a London Newspaper. Taken from the Library of Congress.

This 1774 image shows colonists abusing a tax man whom they have tarred and feathered. They are forcing the tax collector to drink tea. In the background, the scene of the December 1773 Boston Tea Party appears. There are also allusions to the Stamp Act, which is posted upside down on the Liberty Tree. During the late 1760s and early 1770s, colonists protested British legislation in a variety of ways. Images like this one appeared in British publications, offering clear commentary about views of colonists in the mother country.

1. Describe what is happening in the picture.

2. Who is the central figure? Who are the men surrounding him?

3. Why is the tree significant?

4. How does the artist want us to feel about the mob?

5. Do you believe that the artist was an Englishman or an American? Why?

6. Who was the intended audience? Use evidence to prove your position.

Source 3: Map of Protest Locations taken from the The Elizabeth Murray Project

1. Where did most of the protests occur? New England, Middle, or Southern region?

2. Why do you think this is so?

Source 4: Painting of Colonists protesting “no taxation without representation!” Quote by James Otis commenting on the protests. October 31st, 1765. Taken from the Library of Congress.

“No part of His Majesty’s dominions can be taxed without their consent… this would seem to [contradict] the theory of the constitution.Tension is high. Yesterday, an angry mob rushed a tax stamp distributor in Williamsburg, surrounding him.Today, the frightened agent resigned. Angry groups of shopkeepers, printers, lawyers and merchants—calling themselves Sons of Liberty—have joined together. They burn effigies of royal officials and strong-arm stamp agents across the colonies.They’re protesting the Stamp Act.Parliament shocked us all by passing the act. It taxes almost every piece of paper we use: newspapers, legal documents…even playing cards!They’ve never taxed us directly before. We’re outraged.Meeting in a special congress, we’ve declared that the act violates the “spirit” of the English constitution. We should be taxed only by our colonial legislatures.We’ve resolved that Parliament has no power to tax us…because we aren’t represented in Parliament.” ~James Otis, Massachusetts legislator

1. Who is James Otis?

2. Does he feel the colonists’ reaction are justified? Why?

Source 5: “The Resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress” by colonial legislatures on October 19th, 1765. Taken from Library of Congress.

The members of this Congress, sincerely devoted, with the warmest sentiments of affection and duty to His Majesty's Person and Government, inviolably attached to the present happy establishment of the Protestant succession, and with minds deeply impressed by a sense of the present and impending misfortunes of the British colonies on this continent; having considered as maturely as time will permit the circumstances of the said colonies, esteem it our indispensable duty to make the following declarations of our humble opinion, respecting the most essential rights and liberties Of the colonists, and of the grievances under which they labour, by reason of several late Acts of Parliament.

● That His Majesty's subjects in these colonies, owe the same allegiance to the Crown of Great-Britain, that is owing from his subjects born within the realm, and all due subordination to that august body the Parliament of Great Britain.

● That His Majesty's liege subjects in these colonies, are entitled to all the inherent rights and liberties of his natural born subjects within the kingdom of Great-Britain.

● That it is inseparably essential to the freedom of a people, and the undoubted right of Englishmen, that no taxes be imposed on them, but with their own consent, given personally, or by their representatives.

1. Do the representatives at the Stamp Act Congress still consider themselves loyal to the British crown? How do you know?

2. What are the colonists asking for in the Stamp Act Congress Resolutions? How do you know?

Source 6: Painting of George Grenville-the First Lord of the Treasury and later Prime Minister of Great Britain and quote by George Grenville. Taken from Library of Congress.

"I strongly urg'd not only the power but the right of Parliament to tax the colonys, and hop'd in Gods Name … that none would dare dispute their Sovereignty, the King."

George Grenville

1. Who was George Grenville?

2. Why does he think the colonists’ are overreacting?

Colonial Response to Stamp Act

Justified or Overreaction?

Writing Assessment Choose a side! Either anti-Stamp Act colonist or pro-Stamp Act British official and answer the following question: Were the colonists’ reaction to the Stamp Act justified (reasonable) or were they overreacting? Using the evidence from the primary source documents and class discussion, defend a position. Cite textual evidence using MLA format. Author or title of source in parenthesis after quote.

Argumentative Writing Structure:

Introduction paragraph Describe the topic/historical context Thesis Statement: Were the colonists’ reaction to the Stamp Act

justified (reasonable) or were they overreacting?  

Body Paragraph 1 YOUR CLAIM (SUPPORT YOUR POSITION) Topic Sentence- Claim/Reason that supports your thesis Evidence/Data that supports your reason (direct quote or description of image from

the text with MLA in text citation) Explanation/Warrant connects the evidence/data to support the reason/claim Further analysis of the evidence/data Transition Sentence

Body Paragraph 2 COUNTERCLAIM (AGAINST YOUR POSITION) Topic Sentence- Claim/Reason that disagrees with your argument Evidence/Data that supports the counterclaim  (direct quote from the text with MLA in

text citation) Explanation/Warrant of quote to support the counterclaim Rebuttal to the counterclaim (Explain why the counterclaim is wrong)

Closure Paragraph● Summarize your main points and strongest arguments based on analyzed

evidence that defend your position● Interesting thoughts?● New points?

Content Sources http://www.loc.gov/http://www.csulb.edu/projects/elizabethmurray/EM/middlestampact.htmlhttp://constitutioncenter.org/timeline/html/cw01_11876.htmlhttp://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1751-1775/the-resolutions-of-the-stamp-act-congress-october-19-1765.phphttp://investigatinghistory.ashp.cuny.edu/m2b.html

Writing Resourceshttp://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/history/https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/588/03/