On this day in 1765, the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act leading to the American Revolution.
This legislation imposed a direct tax on the American colonies, requiring many printed materials—such as legal documents, licenses, newspapers, and even playing cards and dice—to bear a tax stamp.
It was one of the first instances of Britain taxing the colonies directly, rather than through trade duties, and it sparked widespread outrage and resistance among colonists, who argued “no taxation without representation.”
The Stamp Act became a catalyst for colonial unity and protests, eventually leading to its repeal in 1766, though it set the stage for further conflicts.
“The Stamp Act… places us at the mercy of judges who are strangers to our laws and customs, men who sit in courts where no jury of our peers can shield us from their tyranny.” – Patrick Henry