Stamp Act

The Stamp Act sparked much controversy between Great Britain and the colonies in America and laid the groundwork for the conflict that produced the American Revolution. It was a tax aimed at raising money for the British government, but it seemed to also restrict the ability of the colonies to criticize the government when they disagreed with it and the issue of free press produced much of the argument. This entry examines why the Stamp Act was introduced, its potential impact, reactions to the Stamp Act with a focus on printers’ opposition to the Act, and the result of Stamp Act protests.