The Stamp Act and the Intolerable Acts: Long-Term Causes for the American Revolution
What was the Stamp Act?
What caused the creation of the Stamp Act?
It was an act passed by British parliament in
 Debts from the French and Indian War and the
March of 1765 (went into effect Nov. 1765) that
costs of maintaining 10,000 British troops on
required American colonists to pay a tax on the
Proclamation Line.
printed paper they used. Colonists would
 Money collected from the stamp tax was used
purchase a stamp to affix to their paper goods,
to pay for these troops.
and this stamp was proof that they paid the
necessary tax.
Examples of items that now needed stamps:
Ship's papers, legal documents, contracts, deeds,
licenses, magazines, newspapers, and playing cards
What were the effects of the
Stamp Act throughout the colonies?
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Colonists angered at being taxed without their permission (“no taxation without representation”)
Protests break out…sometimes violent.
Tax collectors were harassed
o Tarring and feathering
o Effigy hangings/burnings
o Homes broken into/offices burned
o Stamps were destroyed/burned
Boycott of British goods
Protest groups (like Sons of Liberty) formed
“Stamp Act Congress” is formed (Oct. 1765)
o 9 colonies send reps to write letter
of protest to KG3. GA wasn’t there!
Stamp Act
What were the effects of the
Stamp Act in the Georgia Colony?
 A few GA colonists showed their dislike by burning
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an effigy of the stamp master in the streets of
Savannah the day before the tax went into effect
GA was the ONLY COLONY to actually ever sell the
stamps! (only a few ever sold)
A protest group called Liberty Boys is created
The Georgia Gazette had to stop printing until the
Stamp Act was repealed
What caused the creation of the Intolerable
Acts?
What were the Intolerable Acts?

Parliament enacted 4 laws that were designed to
restore control over the colonists in Massachusetts and
to send a message to other American colonies that
they should “behave” too.
o
The Boston Port Act
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o
Close port until tea repaid
Massachusetts Government Act
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o
 The Boston Tea Party in Massachusetts in
Dec 1773.
KG3 appoints government officials; limits or
cancels town meetings
Administration of Justice Act

All royal officers will be tried in England not in
colonies
o The Quartering Act

British soldiers provided with food, supplies, and
housing by colonists.
What were the effects of the Intolerable
Acts throughout the colonies?
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The acts made colonists feel sympathy
for Massachusetts and encouraged them to
form the 1st Continental Congress (C.C)
September 5, 1774 – 1st C. C.
in Philadelphia – All colonies EXCEPT GA sent
representatives to protest Intolerable Acts.
They decided to stop trade with Great Britain,
and urged each colony to set up
“Committees of Safety” to make sure
that the boycott was enforced.
Colonists coming together to oppose
British law/action was a step towards
the colonies becoming unified and ready
to oppose Britain in the future if need be.
Intolerable
Acts
What were the effects of the Intolerable
Acts in the Georgia Colony?
 Georgia colonists care more about other
issues and still felt dependent on Britain, so
they DID NOT to send a representative to
the Continental Congress.
 August 1744 - group of Georgians create a
resolution that asked for the same rights as
British citizens living in Britain.
 Agree to hold “Provincial Congress” – Sept.
1775 – less than ½ show up and nothing is
done