The Stamp Act was a tax imposed by the British Parliament on the American colonies in 1765. It required all printed materials, such as newspapers, legal documents, and even playing cards, to carry a stamp, which had to be purchased with British currency. This tax was meant to help pay off the debt of the Seven Years' War. The colonists strongly opposed the Stamp Act, as they believed it violated their rights to be taxed only by their own representatives. They argued that there should be "No taxation without representation." Protests, boycotts, and riots quickly spread throughout the colonies. Some colonists organized secret societies, such as the Sons of Liberty, to resist the tax. Eventually, the Stamp Act was repealed in 1766 due to the pressure and resistance from the colonists. The event marked a significant turning point in the growing colonial discontent towards British rule, leading to further tensions and, ultimately, the American Revolution.
