Time to get “coached up” on
The Stamp Act and The Intolerable Acts!
What was the Stamp Act?
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An act created by British
Parliament in March of 1765
that required all American
colonists to pay a tax on every
piece of printed paper they
used.
Would not go into effect until
November 1765.
Ship’s papers, legal documents,
deeds, contracts, licenses,
magazines, newspapers, and
playing cards were taxed.
What caused the creation of the
Stamp Act?
• $ collected would pay for
British soldiers to defend
Proclamation Line of
1763 (Appalachian
Mtns.)
• $ would also go towards
paying off Britain’s
massive debt after
French and Indian War
What were the effects of the Stamp
Act throughout the colonies?
• Stamp Act viewed as
unfair because colonial
legislatures had not
agreed to it
– Since Magna Carta in 1215,
king was obligated to get
approval of the people before
imposing any new taxes
– Colonists cried out “Taxation
without Representation”
What were the effects of the Stamp
Act throughout the colonies?
• Response towards stamp
tax collectors was
sometimes violent!
– Threats of tarring and
feathering
– Effigy hanging and burning
– Stamps stolen and destroyed
– Office and homes broken into
or burned
• By the time that tax went
into effect, not a single tax
collector in the colonies! HA!
What were the effects of the Stamp
Act throughout the colonies?
• A general boycott of
British goods spread
throughout the
colonies
• Protest groups like
the Sons of Liberty
were formed
What were the effects of the Stamp
Act throughout the colonies?
• Oct. 1765 – New
York – Stamp Act
Congress
– 27 delegates from nine
colonies met to draft a
series of formal
arguments stating why
Parliament had no right
to make colonists pay
the stamp tax.
What were the effects of the Stamp
Act in the Georgia Colony?
• Georgia DID NOT send
a representative to the
Stamp Act Congress.
• Georgia was THE ONLY
COLONY to ever
actually sell the
stamps!!!
– Few ever sold though
What were the effects of the Stamp
Act in the Georgia Colony?
• The tax did not bother the average
Georgian very much!
• A handful of colonists showed frustration
however
– An effigy of GA’s stamp master was burned in
Savannah a few days before act went into
effect.
– On Nov. 6, a protest group formed called the
Liberty Boys, met to discuss anger over the tax.
What were the effects of the Stamp
Act in the Georgia Colony?
• GA’s only newspaper, The GA Gazette, called off
printing until Stamp Act repealed because cost
was too high to print.
• Stamp Act repealed (cancelled) in March 18,
1766, but…interestingly enough, Parliament
passes “Declaratory Act” at same time that says
Britain has the right to assert their authority
over the American colonies “in all cases
whatsoever.” HOLD UP! OH NO, YOU DIDN’T!
What were the Intolerable Acts?
• A series of 5 acts – we are only
going to pay attention to 4 –
passed by British Parliament in
1774.
– The 4 Acts:
• The Boston Port Act
• The Massachusetts
Government Act
• Administration of Justice
Act
• The Quartering Act (1774)
What were the Intolerable Acts?
• The Boston Port Act – the port of Boston was
officially closed until citizens of Mass. Paid for the
tea destroyed in the Boston Tea Party
What were the Intolerable Acts?
• Massachusetts Government Act - High positions
in the colonial government were to be appointed
by the king, and town meetings /activities in Mass.
were called off.
What were the Intolerable Acts?
• Administration of Justice - All royal
officers accused of capital crimes would
be tried in Britain.
What were the Intolerable Acts?
• Quartering Act (1774) – An update to original
stating that colonists must house, feed, and supply
British troops. This version said that the royal
governor could use town buildings to house troops
and that colonists no longer HAD to feed and
supply troops.
What caused the creation of the
Intolerable Acts?
• The Boston Tea Party in
Massachusetts
– Designed to punish the
people of Boston and to
send a clear message to
other colonies that they
better act right!
What were the effects of the Intolerable
Acts throughout the colonies?
• 1st Continental Congress
met in Philadelphia in
Sept. 1774.
– Decided to stop ALL trade
with Britain until
Intolerable Acts are done
away with.
– Decided to set up
“Committees of Safety” in
each colony to ensure that
boycott was enforced.
What were the effects of the Intolerable
Acts in the Georgia colony?
• GA was the ONLY COLONY not to send a
representative to the 1st Continental Congress!
• Most Georgians more concerned with other
matters.
• A group of Georgians do meet a month earlier
in Aug. 1774 to write a resolution to Parliament
demanding that the 13 colonies have the same
rights as British citizens living in England.
What were the effects of the Intolerable
Acts in the Georgia colony?
• This group decided to plan another meeting for
Jan. 1775. This meeting was called the
Provincial Congress, and it was held in
Savannah. Less that ½ of GA’s counties
(parishes) sent representatives and very little
was accomplished.