The Stamp Act
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When did the event take place?
The Stamp Act was a significant event that took place in the American colonies. The main groups involved were the British government and the colonists. The British government, led by King George III and Prime Minister George Grenville, introduced the Stamp Act in order to raise revenue from the American colonies to help pay off the debt from the Seven Years' War. This act required all legal documents, newspapers, playing cards, and other printed materials in the colonies to bear a British stamp, which could only be purchased with British currency.
The event took place primarily in the American colonies, specifically in Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania, among others. The colonial reaction to the Stamp Act was fierce and widespread. Colonists felt that it was a violation of their rights as British subjects and believed in the principle of "no taxation without representation." They protested the act through various means, such as boycotts, riots, and the establishment of underground organizations like the Sons of Liberty.
The Stamp Act was passed by the British Parliament on March 22, 1765, and went into effect on November 1, 1765. It was eventually repealed on March 18, 1766, largely due to the persistent protests and economic damage caused by the colonial boycotts. The event played a pivotal role in the lead-up to the American Revolution, as it ignited a sense of unity among the colonies and spurred them to challenge British authority in defense of their rights and liberties.