4.+Stamp+Act

=The Stamp Act (1765)=

The British Parliament Passed the Stamp act on March 22, 1765. It was a direct tax that required the colonists to put stamps on all printed material. It was written by George Grenville, and it contained fifty-five resolutions explaining what was to be taxed and how much each of the necessary stamps cost. Ship's papers, legal documents, licenses, newspapers, other publications, and even playing cards required stamps. Its purpose was to raise money for the defense of the frontier near the Appalachian Mountains.

Colonists' Reactions
The cost of the Stamp act was fairly small. What sparked outrage among the colonists was the fact that it was a direct tax for the purpose of raising revenue, and it was not approved by their colonial legislatures. They viewed it as a threat of more troublesome taxes to come. Most purchased the stamps anyway, until the Virginia House of Burgesses adopted **Patrick Henry's** Stamp Act Resolve. The resolutions stated that the colonists had a right to be taxed only by their own representatives, that Virginians were not required to pay any taxes not voted on by the House of Burgesses and that any supporting Parliament's rights to tax were enemies of the colony. The House adopted all but the most extreme of those resolutions. **Fauquier**, the Governor of Virginia disapproved of the resolutions and shut down the House of Burgesses.

Important People

 * Patrick Henry**- an orator and politician who led the movement for independence in Virginia


 * Francis Falquier**- Royal Governor of the Virginia Colony