The Stamp Act Congress

The Stamp Act Congress (First Congress of the American Colonies), was a reunion held in New York City in October of 1765. Nine of the British colonies in North America sent representatives/delegates to represent their colonies in the Stamp Act Congress. The goal of the representatives/delegates and politicians was to formulate a unified protest opposing the British taxation, mainly for the Stamp Act of 1765. At first, the Congress seemed to be a failure because only nine of the colonies sent men to represent them. The Stamp Act Congress was ordered by the colonists to discuss their injustices. Also, it was ordered to protest against the measures proposed in the Stamp Act by the British Parliament. It was the first time ever that the politicians from Southern, Middle, and New England Colonies had come together for a common reason.

The Stamp Act congress focused on the implications and the consequences of the Stamp Act of 1765. The men of the Congress were concerned in some elements of the Stamp Act. They said that the Stamp Act was not to regulate trade and commerce, but to get all the money from the colonists. The members of the Congress saw the British command of trade as something legal; however, they saw the imposing of internal taxes as illegal. In the other hand, the Congress noticed that the Stamp Act was introduced by the British without the approval of the colonial legislature. If people didn't follow the Stamp Act, a penalty would have been given to the people who disobeyed the law. Therefore, the members of the Congress and the colonists believed in their rights to trial by jury. The Stamp Act Congress wanted fairness for the colonists.

The members of the Stamp Act Congress believed that the Stamp Act was an intentional attempt to sabotage the commercial strength and the independence of America. The Congress wanted to resist the British Parliament and the authority of England. The Stamp Act Congress was arranged in response to a circular letter distributed by the colonial legislature of Massachusetts Bay. The delegates/representatives of the Stamp Act Congress released a document: "Declaration of the Rights and Grievances of the Colonists". In this important document they declared many things in consideration of the colonists. First of all, they declared that the colonists as members of the British King, had the same rights that the British members had living in England. They also declared that only the colonial assemblies had the right to tax the colonies. As a matter of fact, they declared that colonist were free from taxes except for the ones they had given their acceptance and that they had the right of trial by jury. The Stamp Act Congress did all they can to protect the colonists.

Sugar, Stamp, and Quartering Act of 1765

The Sugar Act

The Sugar was created in 1764. Parliament placed this act on sugar, wine, etc. This tax was also forcing the colonists to pay three cents of tax on the examples before. The British Government or Parliament did not asked permission to the colonists to do this; these taxes can also be called indirect taxes. This tax was made with the purpose to pay the British Empire's responsibilities like the wars such as the French and Indian War, and to improve the security. This would have some consequences because colonists were feeling upset and they were worried that Britain would start making them spend money for their goods through taxes. Later colonists decided to organize a boycott which means refusing to buy British goods. Colonists believed that if they do this, the British would withdraw the taxes.

The Stamp Act

The Stamp Act was created by the British Parliament in March 22, 1765. With this new Act, the colonists had to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they bought. They had to pay a tax on things such as legal documents, newspapers, and even playing cards. The money that the British collected from this tax was used for defending and protecting the American frontier which is why they send 10,000 troops to protect the frontier. Also, an important point to recognize from this tax was that this was the first tax that was levied directly on colonists by the British Government. The colonist’s didn´t like this because they had been buying paper for many years and never had to pay a tax for it. FInally, they decided to create the Stamp Act Congress to deliver a message to the Crown which contained hostile reactions of the colonists of this act. They didn't like having to pay taxes because they had no participation in.

The Quartering Act

The British did a big mistake doing this Act because the colonists had to give accommodations and supplies to British Soldiers, therefore colonists got very mad. The Quartering Act was created in June 2, of 1765. In the other hand, the Quartering Act was one of the indirect taxes for the colonists. Some characteristics of this act were: to give food, home, and transportation to the British soldiers. The British forced colonists to accept this tax using the excuse of protection from French troops. The colonist didn't consider the French dangerous and didn´t like the idea to pay British protection. The British Parliament said that this Act was going to improve the colonists living conditions.

About Us...

Welcome to our Blog about the American Revolution! We are 10th graders who created this blog as an activity for our US History class. This blog is formed by three classmates: Bastien, Maria, and Oscar. We hope that this blog can help you understand the extensive and fascinating story of the American Revolution and we hope that you will enjoy reading our posts as much as we enjoy making them. This blog will mark all the events that took place in the American Revolution that transformed the mentality of single-mindedness of the colonies into a mentality of colonial unity.

“The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders are no more. I Am Not A Virginian, But An American!”

― Patrick Henry

                                                                

Oscar

Bastien

Maria