The Stamp Tax

The Stamp Tax of 1765 was the fourth tax of this kind imposed by England, but it was the first imposed upon the colonies. The tax was imposed on all printed paper such as documents, contracts, legal papers such as wills, newspapers, pamphlets, and even decks of playing cards. England had to impose the tax because of the high debt it run up due to fighting the French and Indian War and to help pay for protecting the American frontier in which England was going to commit 10.000 troops to defend. England felt that the colonies should pay for part of these expenses.

The colonists opposed this act and in March of 1766 it was repealed, but because England needed the money and replaced this tax with several others. This act was viewed by the colonists as a way to get money from them without first getting the approval of the colonial legislatures. The colonists felt that if this tax was passed it would open the door for more taxes without representation, hence the slogan “No Taxation without Representation”.