Stamp Act Congress

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1765 meeting of representatives from several American colonies to devise a unified protest against British taxation

The Stamp Act Congress was a meeting held in October 1765 in New York City, consisting of representatives from several of the Thirteen Colonies. The Congress was formed to devise a unified protest against the new Stamp Act imposed by the Parliament of Great Britain. This was the first gathering of elected representatives from several American colonies to devise a unified protest against British taxation.

Background

The Stamp Act 1765 was a direct tax imposed by the British Parliament specifically on the colonies of British America. The act required that many printed materials in the colonies be produced on stamped paper produced in London, carrying an embossed revenue stamp. These printed materials included legal documents, magazines, newspapers, and many other types of paper used throughout the colonies. The purpose of the tax was to help pay for British troops stationed in North America following the Seven Years' War.

Formation and Delegates

The Stamp Act Congress convened on October 7, 1765, and lasted until October 25, 1765. It was attended by 27 representatives from nine of the thirteen colonies. The colonies represented were Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and South Carolina. Notably absent were Virginia, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Proceedings

The Congress met in Federal Hall in New York City. Over the course of the meeting, the delegates discussed and debated the issues surrounding the Stamp Act and the broader question of Parliament's authority to tax the colonies. The Congress ultimately produced a document known as the "Declaration of Rights and Grievances," which outlined the colonies' objections to the Stamp Act and other forms of taxation without representation.

Declaration of Rights and Grievances

The Declaration of Rights and Grievances was a statement adopted by the Stamp Act Congress on October 19, 1765. It declared that taxes imposed on British colonists without their formal consent were unconstitutional. The document asserted that only the colonial assemblies had the right to tax the colonies and that the Stamp Act was a violation of their rights as Englishmen.

Impact and Legacy

The Stamp Act Congress was significant because it was the first unified meeting of the American colonies to respond to British policies. The Congress's actions helped to set the stage for future colonial unity and resistance, which eventually culminated in the American Revolution. The Stamp Act itself was repealed by the British Parliament in March 1766, but the issues of taxation and representation continued to be a source of tension between the colonies and Britain.

Related Pages

• Stamp Act 1765
• American Revolution
• Declaration of Rights and Grievances
• Federal Hall
• Thirteen Colonies
• Seven Years' War