Misrepresentation Of American Colonists During The Stamp Act

Many colonists were angered because of high taxes England chose to enforce on them. These taxes were a result of the British participation and victory in the French and Indian war. However, what made the colonists even more angry was the fact that they were being taxed without representation in England’s Parliament. The colonists thought that, in order to be taxed by the British, they should have representation in it. They saw it as unfair to be taxed by a government they had no say in. As Patrick Henry said in his speech made to the Virginia House of Burgesses, “We can under law be taxed only by our own representatives...The Stamp Act is against the law. We must not obey it…” (Doc. 1). Since many colonists thought this taxation broke the law, some of them chose to protest by going to the House of Burgesses, boycotting imports, or simply not paying it in response. This response is justified; if

Huge debts were owed to Great Britain for supplying the colonists with military support and supplies. To pay the dues, there was the establishment of the Stamp Act, the taxation on domestic goods and services. A tax on domestic merchandise brought even more anger to the colonists. The Sugar Act, the Townshed Duties and the Tea Act were also all introduced with the same fundamentals: applying tax on goods whether it be directly or indirectly, domestic or international. “British commercial regulations imposed a paltry economic burden on Americans, who enjoyed a rapid economic growth and a standard of living higher than their European counterparts” (McGaughy). Each act resulted in irritated colonists. Some even retaliated by tarring and feathering certain English tax enforcers living in the colonies.

     The passing of the Stamp Act by Parliament in 1765 caused a rush of angry protests by the colonists in British America that perhaps "aroused and unified Americans as no previous political event ever had." It levied a tax on legal documents, almanacs, newspapers, and nearly every other form of paper used in the colonies. Adding to this hardship was the need for the tax to be paid in British sterling, not in colonial paper money. Although this duty had been in effect in England for over half a century and was already in effect in several colonies in the 1750?s, it called into question the authority of Parliament over the overseas colonies that had no representation therein.

     The Stamp Act, however, created much more protest. In 1765, Parliament passed an act requiring the colonists to pay tax stamps on any paper product. The act infuriated colonists because this act was a direct attempt to raise money without the consent of the colonial assemblies. The colonists felt that they were being taxed without representation. With great anger, colonists refused to allow the tax stamps to be sold. Merchants even agreed not to order British goods until the act was abolished. Then, in October of 1765, delegates gathered to discuss the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act Congress stated that the right of taxation belongs only to the people and their elected representatives. Also, they decided that Parliament couldn’t deny their right to trial by jury. They argued that Parliament didn’t have the power to tax them because they had no representatives in Parliament. They denied Parliament’s right to tax them for revenue. The Stamp Act was repealed in 1766, but following that, Parliament passed the Declaratory Act. It stated that the kind and Parliament had full legislative power over the colonies regardless.

The taxes passed by Parliament angered the colonists because they were unconstitutional, and did not give Americans representation in the courts. In a resolution, the text states “... This tax… [is] unconstitutional. We have always understood it to be a grand and fundamental principle.. That no … man should be subject to any tax to which he has not given consent… In the … courts one judge presides alone! No juries [are allowed]” ( Document 1). Here, John Adams is informing his peers of his negative opinion on the first of Parliament’s taxes, the Stamp Act, which was passed on November 1, 1765. This act required Colonists to pay unreasonable fees on almost all printed documents. It is an

The Colonists were very upset with the British for putting unfair taxes on them. These taxes were called the stamp act. For example, the Stamp Act taxed Playing cards,dice, newspapers,and even a lawyer's license(Doc. 3). The colonists responded by boycotting the British goods. They also showed their feelings by the Boston Tea Party (Oi.). Patrick Henry stated

When unreasonable taxes such as the Stamp Act, were implemented, the colonists passively expressed their complaints, grievances, and rights to others in the colonies or even to the king and British Parliament. They published pamphlets, letters, and other forms of expression that were widely viewed and read in the colonies, spreading and encouraging ideas of independence and rebellion. For example, in document 1, the images depict two clearly written phrases, “No Stamp Act” and “America, Liberty Restored.” These affirm their resentment towards

Most were outraged and spoke out against the injustice such as in the speech by Patrick Henry when he states, “We can under law be taxed only by our representatives. We have no representatives in the British Parliament...The Stamp Act is against the law. We must not obey it...King George is a tyrant” (Document 1). Speeches like this inspired the patriots to rise up and take action against the law. Many smuggled goods such as newspapers and letters while others made propaganda against the British. Colonists began protesting publicly and called much attention to the problem facing the colonies which the British did not like at all. The colonists showed so much revolt against the tax that the British Parliament repealed it only a year after it was passed. That battle had been won by the colonists but the war was yet to

Anger grew in the colonies. The Stamp Act made the colonists mad because they had no representation or a debate of the act. Parliament thought it would

The colonist also didn’t admire that they had no say in how much they are paying or what they are paying for, this wasn’t fair. “ Fundamental principle of the constitution that no free man should be subjected to any tax to which he had not given consent, in person or by proxy “ which is also “ No taxation without representation”. The Americans thought it was necessary to have legislators seated and voting in the London to be taxed. James Otis was the main person to argue for this representation in the Stamp Act Congress. On the other hand the British believed in something called virtual representation, virtual representation is a belief that a member of the Parliament virtually represented every person in the

On the other hand, the Stamp Act has a different and a direct effect on the colonies. The objective of the act is to tax legal documents, almanacs, newspapers, playing cards, and nearly every form of paper used in the colonies. This seems to be a threat to the American constitutional rights. Therefore, colonial agents in London and lieutenants Governor oppose to the Stamp Act, including Franklin saying that “It will affect the printers more that anybody”.

Taxes, such as the Stamp Act, increased prices of everyday goods, such as cards, newspapers, and Dice.(Doc 3) The reason why the taxes were coming so often was because the French and Indian War just happened. ”King George is a Tyrant. He breaks the laws. He is an enemy to his own people.” (Doc 1) These words were famous words from Patrick Henry on how he thought of the taxes were unfair. During this time, the Americans didn’t have representation for taxes. During this time, The British Empire was basically saying to the colonists “Since the French and Indian War was on the soil of Americans, all colonists must pay for the damage.” “I know not of what others may choose but, as for me, give me liberty or give me death,” was another quote from Patrick Henry.(OI) So, even though the colonists were already mad for unjustly taxation, took action into their own hands. Also, the colonists were unhappy because they had no representation. James Otis started up the quote “Taxation without representation is tyranny,” which meant that it wasn’t fair for the British to tax the american colonists without american

The stamp act affected both the common man and colonial elite economically, leading to the union of both classes in protest of the act. Very heavy taxes “on all estates, real and personal; a poll tax; a tax on all offices, professions, trades, and businesses, according to their profits; an excise on all wine ,rum, and other spirit; and a duty of ten pounds per head on all Negroes imported, with some other duties” in order to “support the civil and military establishments of the country, and to discharge the heavy debt contracted in the last [Seven Years’] war”, had been present in the colonies prior to the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act was a law that required colonist to pay a tax on almost any printed paper including playing card, pamphlets, and legal documents. When Benjamin Franklin, a member of the colonial elite, was questioned about the colonists ability to pay these taxes, he answered “no”, and continued

While there were many controls, regulations, and taxes placed on the colonists from Britain without representation of the mainstream society, Britain did provide the larger cities with an opportunity to voice concern to various Representatives and Governors appointed by the Crown (Tindall & Shi, 2010). The Stamp Act was different in that not only did it have the largest affect on day to day life of the businessmen, who were the most vocal and influential colonists, it was imposed without any opportunity to voice alternative solutions from the colonists or the appointed officials present in the colonies (Tindall & Shi, 2010). The famous quote, “No taxation without representation” displays the outrage this selfish British act caused among the colonists. This was the first move made by King George III that showed that he intended to use Britain’s new land for revenue building during his reign and this patronizing and disrespectful act ignited a series of events that became the American Revolution (Tindall & Shi, 2010).

many events prior to the declaration of independence infuriated the american colonists.Which led us to the Stamp act in 1765 the British Parliament exacted revenue from the American colonies by imposing a stamp duty on newspapers and legal and commercial documents. Many american colonist were upset that the stamp act