The Stamp Act Brings Nationalism To The American Revolution

JAKARTA - In an effort to raise funds to pay off debts and maintain the territory of America, the British Government passed the Stamp Act on March 22, 1765.

The Stamp Act is a law that levies direct taxes on all materials printed for commercial and legal use in the colony, from newspapers and pamphlets, to playing cards and dice.

Although the policy adopted a general fundraising strategy in the UK, it sparked protests.

In addition, the British Government enacted laws known as the three major taxes: the Sugar Act (1764), which levied duties on imports of textiles, wine, coffee and sugar; Currency Act (1764), which caused a large decrease in the value of the banknotes used by the colony; and the Quartering Act (1765), which requires colonists to provide food and shelter for British troops.

With the enactment of the Stamp Act, people saw that the British government was trying to destroy their economic strength and independence.

The colonies in America also raised the issue of unrepresentative taxation and formed a united society from all colonies to unite against the British and the aristocrats who were trying to exploit the colony as a source of income.

According to History, Saturday, March 22, as many as 9 of the 13 colonies sent representatives to the Stamp Act Congress, where the colonists drafted the Declaration of Rights and Protests, a document that lambasted British royal policy. The Congress at first appeared to be a complete failure, with only 9 colonies sending delegates.

Representatives from Georgia, North Carolina, New Hampshire and Virginia who were deemed very important did not attend. The Congress quickly divided into two groups: radicals and moderates. Only a handful who belong to the extreme groups believe in stronger measures against Britain.

Realizing that the Stamp Act was actually more expensive to enforce, the British government finally revoked the tax. The Stamp Act also created a much larger movement in resistance to the British Government and the battle for independence.

A group of merchants leads anti-British protests in Boston and other coastal cities. Groups of landowners also came together to join the protest movement.

Long after the Stamp Act was repealed, societies continued to meet in opposition to the cruel policies of Britain. From their meeting, came a heightened sense of nationalism. One decade later, the American Revolution was born.