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Interesting US History
A Website Devoted to Interesting Events in U.S. History

 

 
 

 

ON THIS DAY IN UNITED STATES HISTORY

March 22, 1765

The British Parliament Passes the Stamp Act
Which Imposes a Tax on the American Colonies

On this day in 1765, the Stamp Act is passed by the British Parliament which required legal documents, magazines, newspapers, and other paper documents to be printed on paper with an embossed revenue stamp. This stamped paper which was printed in London could only be obtained by paying a tax in British currency as opposed to colonial money.

The British attempted to justify this new tax by claiming that the colonies had the most to gain from the military that was stationed in North America and therefore should help pay for it. The colonists objected to this tax because they did not have representation in the British Parliament. Although the Stamp Act was repealed the following year, it brought the colonies one step closer to the American Revolution.