Contested Relationship
George Grenville
The New Imperial Policy to the Repeal
of the Stamp Act, 1763-1765
George III—1738-1820
• Constitutional Perspective
• Only seen as “royal brute” beginning in
1770s
• Desire to restore royal prerogative
• Unstable Parliamentary leadership—Pitt,
Bute, Grenville, Rockingham, Pitt, Grafton
(Townshend), Grafton, North.
• Internal Matters—John Wilkes
New Imperial Policy
• Desire to create single economic system
according to principles of Mercantilism
• Elimination of habit of “salutary neglect”;
lower rates, better enforcement. (e. g.:
Revenue Act of 1764 [Sugar Act])
• Colonies to pay a PORTION of their cost
of governance and defense. (£78,000 of
£200,000 annual estimate.)
Major Pieces of Legislation
• Writs of Assistance, 1760
• Proclamation of 1763
• Act for the Encouragement of Officers
Making Seizures (1763)
• Sugar Act (1764) (£45,000 per annum
est.)
• Currency Act (1764)
• Quartering Act (1765)
Stamp Act
• Proposed on Feb. 13, 1765, to take effect
on November 1, 1765.
• Only 3 opposition speeches—most
famous by Isaac Barré
• Revenue stamps on newspapers,
pamphlets, broadsides, almanacs, bonds,
leases, deeds, licenses, insurance
policies, ship clearances, college
diplomas, dice and playing cards
Daniel Dulany, Considerations on the Propriety of Imposing Taxes in the British
Colonies (1765).
The inhabitants of the colonies are, as such, incapable ot being electors, the
privilege of election being exercisable only in person, and, therefore, if every
inhabitant of America had the requisite freehold, not one could vote but upon the
supposition of his ceasing to be an inhabitant of America and becoming a resident in
Great Britain, a supposition which would be impertinent because it shifts the
question…..
It appears to me that there is a clear and necessary distinction between an act
imposing a tax for the single purpose of revenue and those acts which have been
made for the regulation of trade and have produced some revenue in consequence
of their effect and operation as regulations of trade. …..
The colonies claim the privileges of British subjects. It has been proved to be
inconsistent with those privileges to tax them with out their own consent, and it has
been demonstrated that a tax imposed by Par1iament is a tax without their
consent. …
A right to impose an internal tax on the colonies without their consent for the single
purpose of revenue is denied; a right to regulate their trade without their consent is
admitted.
1. Resolved, that the first adventurers and settlers of His Majesty's colony and dominion
of Virginia brought with them and transmitted to their posterity, and all other His
Majesty's subjects since inhabiting in this His Majesty's said colony, all the liberties,
privileges, franchises, and immunities that have at any time been held, enjoyed, and
possessed by the people of Great Britain.
2. Resolved, that by two royal charters, granted by King James I, the colonists
aforesaid are declared entitled to all liberties, privileges, and immunities of denizens
and natural subjects to all intents and purposes as if they had been abiding and born
within the Realm of England.
3. Resolved, that the taxation of the people by themselves, or by persons chosen by
themselves to represent them, who can only know what taxes the people are able to
bear, or the easiest method of raising them, and must themselves be affected by every
tax laid on the people, is the only security against a burdensome taxation, and the
distinguishing characteristic of British freedom, without which the ancient constitution
cannot exist.
4. Resolved, that His Majesty's liege people of this his most ancient and loyal colony
have without interruption enjoyed the inestimable right of being governed by such laws,
respecting their internal policy and taxation, as are derived from their own consent, with
the approbation of their sovereign, or his substitute; and that the same has never been
forfeited or yielded up, but has been constantly recognized by the kings and people of
Great Britain.
5. Resolved, therefore that the General Assembly of this Colony have the only and
exclusive Right and Power to lay Taxes and Impositions upon the inhabitants of this
Colony and that every Attempt to vest such Power in any person or persons whatsoever
other than the General Assembly aforesaid has a manifest Tendency to destroy British
as well as American Freedom. Virginia Resolves, 1765
Responses
• Stamp Act Congress (Declaration of Rights and
Grievances)
• Violent Protests—Andrew Oliver Burned in effigy
and Thomas Hutchinson’s house destroyed;
Sons of Liberty
• Propaganda and Ideology—Whig Theory/Virtual
versus Actual Representation
• Repeal of Stamp Act, 1766
• Declaratory Act, 1766 – “in all cases
whatsoever.”