The Stamp Act and Colonial Protests

The Stamp Act of 1765 was one of the first direct taxes levied by Britain on the American colonies, requiring that many printed materials produced in the colonies be produced on stamped paper from London, carrying an embossed revenue stamp. This act sparked widespread protests, as colonists believed it violated their rights and was a form of taxation without representation. The colonial response included boycotts of British goods and the formation of groups like the Sons of Liberty, who organized demonstrations against the Stamp Act, ultimately leading to its repeal in 1766.