I need help with my introduction and topics for my five paragraph essay on why the stamp act was not fair.
http://www.jiskha.com/display.cgi?id=1462480652
I NEED help on the introduction
What did you say in the body of your paper?
The Stamp Act of 1765 was the first internal tax levied directly on American colonists by the British government. The act which imposed a tax on all paper documents in the colonies came at a a time when the British empire was deep in debt from the seven years war and looking to its North American colonies as a revenue source. Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766, but issued a Declaratory Act at the same time to reaffirm its authority to pass any colonial legislation it saw fit. The issues of taxation and representation raised by the stamp act strained relations with the colonies and 10 years later the colonist rose, rebelled against the British.
The stamp was unfair because there was taxation without representation. This means that it's a situation in which a government imposes taxes on a particular group of citizens not consenting or having an actual representative deliver their views when the taxation decision was made. It passed without debate by parliament in March 1765, the stamp act was designed to force colonists to use a special stamped paper in the printing. The colonists greeted the arrival of the stamps with violence and economic retaliation. A general boycott of British goods began and the sons of Liberty stages attacks on the custom houses and homes of tax collectors in Boston.
Oops wrong one
Writing a persuasive essay on why the Stamp Act was not fair is a great topic to explore. To craft an effective introduction and determine suitable topics for your five-paragraph essay, you can follow these steps:
1. Start with an attention-grabbing hook: Begin your introduction with a captivating statement or a thought-provoking question related to the Stamp Act. This can help engage your reader and make them interested in reading further.
2. Provide background information: Briefly explain what the Stamp Act was and its historical context. Mention that it was an act passed by the British Parliament in 1765, requiring American colonists to pay a tax on various printed materials, such as legal documents, newspapers, and even playing cards.
3. State your thesis statement: Your thesis statement should clearly convey your position on why the Stamp Act was not fair. It should be a concise sentence that encapsulates the main argument of your essay. For example: "The Stamp Act imposed unreasonable burdens on the American colonists, infringing upon their rights while lacking adequate representation, making it an unjust and oppressive tax."
4. Determine topics for your body paragraphs: In a five-paragraph essay, you will typically have three major arguments or topics to support your thesis statement. These topics should provide evidence and reasoning to persuade the reader of your claim.
i. Topic 1: Lack of Representation and Taxation: Explain how the colonists were taxed without their consent and without proper representation in the British Parliament. Discuss the famous slogan "No taxation without representation" and its significance in the colonists' resistance against the Stamp Act.
ii. Topic 2: Economic Hardships: Highlight the economic burden imposed by the Stamp Act on the American colonies. Discuss how the tax affected various sectors, including legal, publishing, and business industries, leading to increased prices and reduced profitability. Share specific examples to support your argument.
iii. Topic 3: Protests and Resistance: Explore the forms of protest and resistance undertaken by the American colonists against the Stamp Act. Discuss acts of civil disobedience, like the boycott of British goods, non-importation agreements, and the Stamp Act Congress. Explain how these actions demonstrated the colonists' resolve to oppose an unfair and unjust tax.
5. Conclude your introduction: Conclude your introduction by summarizing your main thesis statement and briefly mentioning the three topics you will discuss in the body paragraphs. This should give the reader an overview of your essay's direction and main arguments.
Remember, as you proceed with your essay, provide evidence, examples, and logical reasoning to support each topic. Conclude your essay with a strong conclusion that restates your thesis and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.