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Stamp Act Dbq

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The French and Indian War in 1754, left the British government in large debts. The war was known as the French and Indian War because thousands of Native Americans fought alongside the French. The British won the war thanks partly to the Americans, while they took over most of France’s northern territory. By 1764 the British had accumulated a national debt of 130 million pounds. The British decided, as a result of the debts, that they will take the people of the British colonies. This occurrence the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act wa a law that required all people that lived in the colonies, to pay a stamp tax on practically everything that was printed on paper including legal documents, bills of sale, contracts, wills, advertising, pamphlets, almanacs, …show more content…

The actual cost of the Stamp Act was relatively small. What made the law so offensive to the colonists wasn’t so much the cost, but the standard it seemed to set. The Stamp Act was viewed as a direct attempt by England to raise money in the colonies without the approval of the colonial legislatures. From a book excerpt by Maurice Moore, the quote states, “Hath their conduct in respect to Stamp duty been consistent with the interests of the colonists, or hath that conduct been such as the colonists would have adopted had they been presented in the Parliament?”(Moore,excerpt). This source and this quote, state that the Stamp Act is beneficial for England and their debts, but not American colonists. It shows that the stamp act is not in the interest of the people. From article excerpt by Daniel Dulany, the author states, “deprived every privilege distinguishing free-men from slaves.”(Dulany,excerpt). In this quote, they argue that if this right is taken away from them, they are the same as slaves. “the right of exemption from all taxe without their consent.”(Dulany,excerpt). This quote is stating that the colonists should have the same right to decide on the taxes they pay as British people in England. Colonists are trying to convince common people to resist the Stamp Act. From The General Meeting of the Freemen documented on October 25, 1765, the document states, “they will detest… all and every person or persons who shall meanly accept…”(freemen,excerpt). At this meeting, the Freemen agree not to speak to any tax collectors, unless they are telling them how vile they are. In a book by Peter Oliver written in 1781, he talks about how American colonists had a very violent reaction to the Stamp Act. “The Mob, also on the same evening, broke into the office of the Register of the Admiralty and did considerable damage there…”(Oliver,excerpt).

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