Benjamin Franklin, a very wise publisher from Philadelphia, has recently been testifying against the stamp act and promoting the idea of American liberties. For those who are not aware, the Stamp Act consisted of the British taxing goods made in the colonies and the colonists must pay tax on every piece of printed papers that they used , toward the English. Currently people are rebelling toward this taxation and we believe that we should only be taxed by our own representatives just as the English people are. We Americans are paying very heavy taxes toward the British government and the heavy taxation on us must come to an end. Today in the colonies, we currently pay taxes on all estates, a tax on all offices, trades and businesses, and 10 pounds for every slave that gets imported to the colonies. …show more content…
He continues to say that, “there is not gold and silver enough in the colonies to pay the stamp duty for one year”. Benjamin Franklin brings up very good points through these statements. Great Britain is currently millions of dollars in debt due to the French and Indian war. The colonies do not deserve to be taxed to pay off the debt of the British. The debt of the British should be paid off only by the people of Great Britain because it is their responsibility. The colonies are currently paying a large amount of money in taxes for the resources of themselves. Not only are the people unable to afford it, but the people are not used to paying so much of their hard earned money on taxes. The Stamp Act is the first direct tax that the colonists have
After the French and Indian War, the British had a lot of debt that needed to be paid back. In order to do this, they put large amounts of taxes on the colonies, one of which was the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act was not justified because the colonists had no representation, and because it was not entirely spent on necessary things. First of all, the British levied taxes on the colonies without any discussion or compromising. This was extremely unfair to the, “American colonists who had no representation in Parliament”(Cummins 63).
The Stamp Act The Stamp Act was a tax placed on the American colonies by the British in 1765. It said they had to pay a tax on all sorts of printed materials such as newspapers, magazines and legal documents. It was called the Stamp Act because the colonies were supposed to buy paper from Britain. The items bought had to have an official stamp on it that showed they had paid the tax. No Representation The colonists
All these acts made the colonists very unhappy. Another act was the stamp act, which was enforced by Great Britain, and it made the colonies pay taxes on everything they printed. Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to Hughs in attempt to tell Pennsylvania colonists that they are trying to get rid of the stamp act (doc G). Franklin urged Hughs to not do anything rash while they were trying to execute the stamp act. Also he mentions how the colonies will be very displeased and that Hughs would become “unpopular” if the stamp act continued to be enforced.
In 1744, the elected leaders of each colony held a meeting to discuss the future in spite of what the king wanted. This was the “continental congress”. After the British found out, they responded with even more taxes and laws that infuriated the locals who lived there. One tax that they imposed was especially maddening, the stamp act of 1765. This tax made Americans pay small fees on almost all goods and services as it was in the form of a stamp that was put on goods.
When the letter, “Pax Queritur Bello” was created by Ben Franklin, Britain was in the midst of discussion on enacting the Stamp Act which would places taxes on all papers. It was before this moment that numerous Americans were becoming rebellious to the mother country because of how they were being treated. Multiple taxes, fees, and prejudicial acts were being placed upon the American people causing aggression between the colonies and Great Britain. Furthermore, they had used their own rights as reason to the idea that they are being treated unfairly. As displeasure flourished throughout America, Ben Franklin decided to write a letter claiming that Britain should continue to use their colonies in any matter they please; however, the fate of
Later Britain created the Stamp Act to collect money from the colonists to ease the debt that accumulated from the French and Indian War. Ben Franklin in a letter to John Hughs in 1765 comments that there is support to get the act repealed and that even though the success of the repeal is uncertain if the act were to continue Hughs’ would gain
We have been unfairly taxed by your Stamp Act when America was not even represented in Parliament. Our colonists were forced to pay for tax stamps placed on various documents and papers such as newspapers, playing cards and diplomas.
The Stamp Act, a bill, was created to assist England in paying for the most recent war with France. Many of the British Colonists believed that the Stamp act was highly unfair; however, England believed that the bill was truly right and just, seeing as the colonial taxpayers paid less in other taxes. This act led to the two groups battling against one another to see who was on the correct side of the argument (Beauchemin 9). The Stamp Act was heavily unfair to the American taxpayers due to the mass amounts of trouble and disrupt that England had caused the colonies.
Stamp Act of 1765 was the first major act passed that American’s opposed British policy. This act was a taxation measure imposed on all American colonists. They were forced to pay a tax on all printed paper they used. From licenses,
Sarah Knight Mrs. Sittenauer AP History September 16 2014 The colonists had the right to break away from Britain. The only choice they had was to go to war with them. The only strategic options they had would not stand a chance up against the British. The colonists were very upset with America about the way they were making laws up until the war began.
The British’s debt forced them into a position to impose large taxes on the colonists but much to the colonists discontent. Beginning with the Stamp and Sugar acts which were taxes put on by the British government. The stamp act taxed any paper product; for example, letters, certificates, or any printed material were colonists were required to pay a tax on, which hurt business owners. The sugar act was a tax put on any sugar that was sent to the colonies. These taxes greatly angered the colonists and their frustrations derived from the idea of “no taxation without representation.”
In 1767, The Colonies Reduced was published in Great Britain, while Benjamin Franklin is given credit. He was trying to warn of the consequences of isolating the colonies through the crowns enforcement of the stamp act. It was attempt by parliament to gain funds from the colonists to help pay for troops and the administration of the colonies. This act required colonists to purchase stamps (basically a royal seal) for most documents and items that were printed, such as playing cards, land titles, contracts, advertisements, books and even newspapers. Due to this act affecting nearly everyone it created hostility throughout the colonies.
A. Explain the reasons for English Colonization by doing the Following: A1. Discuss the political motivations for English Imperialism. The main political motivation for English Imperialism was due to the rivalries with its European Counterparts. Initially, European countries were looking for a water passage to China so they would be able to trade for their goods. Spain, who lead the charge, landed in Central and South America, captured gold and silver.
Arguably, these taxes were only placed by Britain to “milk” the colonies for profit. Ben Franklin responded to the Stamp Act, writing a letter to John Hughs to discuss efforts to get it repealed (Document G). . In a way, the series of taxes applied by Parliament would spark a fire within the colonists and begin the American Revolution, where Americans finally say enough is enough. The time had come for political and ideological change, where the colonies would break from their motherland, Great Britain. In conclusion, the French Indian War would kick off a series of political, economic, and ideological events that changed the relationship between Britain and its colonies forever.
When the war ended they were wore down and weak. This made the actions of the colonists more effective. Because of the debt, Britain’s economy was not strong. To help pay for the debt, Britain passed the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act put a tax on every printed item they used and required them to buy a government-issued stamp for legal documents and other paper goods.