INTRODUCTION:
After the French and Indian (Seven Year's War), Great Britain had enormous debt. English subjects were heavily taxed. Parliament determined that the colonies, prospering under the protection of the British navy and the successes in the war, should pay at least for the costs of administration in the colonies. Thus in 1764, Prime Minister, George Grenville, proposed the Sugar Act and a stamp tax. Parliament enacted the Sugar Act in 1764 but merely announced its intentions to enact a stamp act if the colonies did not, within a year, come up with proposals to raise the revenue needed for the costs of administration. The colonies, rather than proposing any taxes themselves, merely protested England's plans.
Thus Parliament enacted the Stamp Act in 1765. That act required the use of revenue stamps (ranging in cost from three pence to six pounds) on all legal documents and printed materials such as newspapers and playing cards. Such taxes had been in effect in England for a number of years, thus few in the British government anticipated the storm of protest that would erupt in the colonies. Virginia was the first colony to protest. There, a new member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, Patrick Henry, introduced seven resolutions. The Virginia assembly only adopted four, all of which were seen as respectful and moderate, but Henry published and circulated all of them (including the most radical ones which declared that no colonist was obliged to obey a tax law not enacted by their own assembly and any one "speaking or writing" that Parliament had the power to impose such taxes were "deemed an enemy" of Virginia) as if they had all passed. Other colonies followed suit. Finally, the Massachusetts assembly sent a circular letter to the other colonies calling for all the colonies to meet in convention to "consult together on the present circumstances of the colonies" and to plan their strategy for opposition to the new tax.
The Stamp Act Congress met in New York in October of 1765. Twenty-eight delegates from nine of the colonies met. The three colonies who sent no delegates did not receive the call until after their assemblies had adjourned. The Congress passed the so-called Stamp Act Resolutions which are printed below. In addition, it petitioned the King and the House of Commons and developed economic strategies to pressure Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act.
DOCUMENT:
The members of this Congress, sincerely devoted, with the warmest sentiments of affection and duty to His Majesty's Person and Government, inviolably attached to the present happy establishment of the Protestant succession, and with minds deeply impressed by a sense of the present and impending misfortunes of the British colonies on this continent; having considered as maturely as time will permit the circumstances of the said colonies, esteem it our indispensable duty to make the following declarations of our humble opinion, respecting the most essential rights and liberties Of the colonists, and of the grievances under which they labour, by reason of several late Acts of Parliament.
II. That His Majesty's liege subjects in these colonies, are entitled to all the inherent rights and liberties of his natural born subjects within the kingdom of Great-Britain.
IV. That the people of these colonies are not, and from their local circumstances cannot be, represented in the House of Commons in Great-Britain.
V. That the only representatives of the people of these colonies, are persons chosen therein by themselves, and that no taxes ever have been, or can be constitutionally imposed on them, but by their respective legislatures.
VI. That all supplies to the Crown, being free gifts of the people, it is unreasonable and inconsistent with the principles and spirit of the British Constitution, for the people of Great-Britain to grant to His Majesty the property of the colonists.
VII. That trial by jury is the inherent and invaluable right of every British subject in these colonies.
VIII. That the late Act of Parliament, entitled, An Act for granting and applying certain Stamp Duties, and other Duties, in the British colonies and plantations in America, etc., by imposing taxes on the inhabitants of these colonies, and the said Act, and several other Acts, by extending the jurisdiction of the courts of Admiralty beyond its ancient limits, have a manifest tendency to subvert the rights and liberties of the colonists.
IX. That the duties imposed by several late Acts of Parliament, from the peculiar circumstances of these colonies, will be extremely burthensome and grievous; and from the scarcity of specie, the payment of them absolutely impracticable.
X. That as the profits of the trade of these colonies ultimately center in Great-Britain, to pay for the manufactures which they are obliged to take from thence, they eventually contribute very largely to all supplies granted there to the Crown.
XI. That the restrictions imposed by several late Acts of Parliament, on the trade of these colonies, will render them unable to purchase the manufactures of Great-Britain.
XII. That the increase, prosperity, and happiness of these colonies, depend on the full and free enjoyment of their rights and liberties, and an intercourse with Great-Britain mutually affectionate and advantageous.
XIII. That it is the right of the British subjects in these colonies, to petition the King, Or either House of Parliament.