StampActs.pmd

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CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

THE STAMP ACT CRISIS

I. California Standards

HISTORY-SOCIAL SCIENCE STANDARDS

Content Standards

5.5 Students explain the causes of the American Revolution

(1) Understand how political, religious, and economic ideas and interests

brought about the Revolution (e.g., resistance to imperial policy, the Stamp

Act, the Townshend Acts, taxes on tea, Coercive Acts).

(2) Know the significance of the first and second Continental Congresses and of

the Committees of Correspondence.

Analysis Skill Standards

Chronological and Spatial Thinking

(1) Students place key events and people of the historical era they are studying in a

chronological sequence and within a spatial context; they interpret time lines.

(3) Students explain how the present is connected to the past, identifying both

similarities and differences between the two, and how some things change over time

and some things stay the same.

Historical Interpretation

(1) Students summarize the key events of the years they are studying and explain the

historical contexts of those events.

(3) Students identify and interpret the multiple causes and effects of historical events.

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Grade 5

United States History and Geography



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ENGLISH-LANGUAGE ARTS STANDARDS

Reading Comprehension

1.5 Understand and explain the figurative and metaphorical use of words in context.

2.3 Discern main ideas and concepts presented in texts, identifying and assessing

evidence that supports those ideas.

2.4 Draw inferences, conclusions, or generalizations about text and support them

with textual evidence and prior knowledge.

Writing

1.2 Create multiple-paragraph expository compositions.

2.4 Write persuasive letters or compositions.

Speaking

2.2 Deliver informative presentations about an important idea, issue, or event.

ENGLISH-LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, GRADES 3–5, LEVEL 4

Listening and Speaking

(3) Be understood when speaking, using consistent standard English grammatical

forms, sounds, intonation, pitch and modulation.

(5) Recognize appropriate ways of speaking that vary based on purpose, audience,

and subject matter.

Reading Fluency

(6) Use decoding skills and knowledge of academic and social vocabulary to achieve

independent reading.

(8) Read increasingly complex narrative and expository texts aloud with appropriate

pacing, intonation and expression.

Reading Comprehension

(1) Describe main ideas and supporting details of a text.

(3) Describe relationships between text and their experience.

(4) Locate and identify the function of text features such as format, diagrams, charts,

glossaries and indexes.

(5) Use resources in the text (such as ideas, illustrations, titles, etc.) to draw conclu-

sions and make inferences.

(6) Distinguish between explicit examples of fact, opinions, inference, and cause/

effect in texts.

(7) Identify some significant structural (organizational) patterns in text, such as

sequence/chronological order, and cause/effect.

The Stamp Act Crisis

Lesson Plan

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Writing

(4) Use complex vocabulary and sentences appropriate for language arts and other

content areas (e.g. math, science, social studies).

(5) Independently write a persuasive letter with relevant evidence.

II. Teacher Background Information

he 13 American colonies in 1754 faced threats from French Quebec in the north

and Spanish Florida in the south. The French were also establishing forts in the

Ohio Valley, a vast territory to the west of the Appalachian Mountains claimed by both

Britain and France. Most Native Americans were more sympathetic to the French since

they considered the British colonists to be more of a threat to their existence. Although

most of the British colonies claimed lands in the Ohio Valley, the governor of Virginia

sent George Washington into the region to present an ultimatum to the French

demanding that they leave Virginia’s territory. The French refused and a conflict

resulted over the disputed land.

In 1756 the struggle over the Ohio Valley had grown into a

major war fought in America and Europe. The Seven Years’

War (French and Indian War) ended in 1763 with the

expulsion of the French from the North American

continent. Spain, France’s ally, lost Florida to the British.

The British colonies of North America no longer faced an

imminent threat from the French. Native Americans,

however, who had allied with the French during the war,

were still a threat. Shortly after the war with France ended,

an Indian leader named Pontiac attacked British outposts in

the Ohio Valley.

King George III issued the Proclamation of 1763

prohibiting colonial settlement beyond the Appalachian

Mountains as a means of conciliating Native Americans.

The Proclamation irritated colonists who looked to the west

as a source of acquiring new land. Although Indian lands west of the Appalachians were

placed under military control colonists largely ignored the Proclamation and continued

to move west.

The huge cost of the war was another point of contention between Britain and her

American colonies. Britain argued that since the war had been fought to protect the

colonies they must share in the cost of the war. The Sugar Act in 1764 was the first act

passed by Parliament for the express purpose of raising money in the colonies. Before

1764 the colonies voted on tax measures in their local colonial governing bodies. The

colonies objected to the taxation since they had no representatives in Parliament.

Colonists began to demand “no taxation without representation!” The Massachusetts

colony led the opposition. Town meetings in Boston denounced the tax policy and the

The Stamp Act Crisis

Lesson Plan

Title page of George Washington’s Journal

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Massachusetts legislature established a “Committee of Correspondence” to build a

united opposition to the imposed taxes. By the end of the year other colonies had joined

with Massachusetts and pledged not to import British goods.

In 1765 Parliament passed the Stamp Act as a further measure to raise revenue by placing

taxes on newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets, advertisements, land deeds, marriage

licenses, insurance policies, and even dice and playing cards. Revenue

stamps or stamped paper had to be purchased before goods could be

sold in the colonies. Colonists united in opposition and organized

committees to boycott British goods. Some newspapers refused to

purchase stamped paper and published in defiance of the law. The

Sons of Liberty, a secret organization, was formed to intimidate

anyone who cooperated by purchasing the hated stamps. Members of

the organization terrorized men who had been selected to issue the

revenue stamps and were responsible for tar and feathering tax collectors.

The commander of British forces in America, General Thomas Gage, called on

Parliament to send troops to the colonies to impose order. Parliament passed a

Quartering Act requiring the colonies to supply food and shelter for the troops in inns

and unoccupied dwellings. Later Quartering Acts house troops in private homes at the

expense of the homeowners.

Several of the colonies called for a special congress to meet to take measures to oppose

Parliament’s tax policy. The Stamp Act Congress accused Parliament of violating their

rights as Englishmen. The Congress called on all colonies to refuse to buy any goods

made in England until the act was repealed. The governor of Rhode Island refused to

enforce the Stamp Act. In several other colonies the courts were closed rather than use

the required stamps.

Revenues Parliament had expected from the Stamp Act were not being raised and British

merchants were being seriously hurt by the success of the colonial non-importation

agreements. In 1766 Parliament debated repeal. Benjamin Franklin in London as an

agent for several colonies was called to testify. Franklin warned that if Britain attempted

to send more troops to enforce the Stamp Act there would likely be open rebellion.

Parliament relented and repealed the Stamp Act. On the same day it repealed the Stamp

Act, Parliament, not wishing to give the impression that it was “backing down,” passed

the Declaratory Act. This act simply stated that Parliament had the power to pass any

laws it wished to govern the colonies.

The Stamp Act Crisis

Lesson Plan

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The Stamp Act Crisis

Lesson Plan

III. Materials Needed

 Sales receipts indicating taxes paid on items

 Student Handout 1: “Causes of the American Revolution Time Line”

 Student Handout 2: Role Cards for:

a. Members of the British Parliament

b. Members of Colonial Assemblies

 Document 1: “The Stamp Act”

 Document 2: “Opposition to the Stamp Act”

 Transparency Master: “Cause and Effects Chart”

Note To The Teacher

Before introducing the lesson have each student bring in a sales receipt from a recent

purchase. Collect the slips and with a highlighter shade the tax that was collected on the

purchase. Make certain that any credit card information that may be on the receipt is

darkened so that it is not readable. You may wish to inform parents that sales receipts

are to be used and advise them to blot out any credit card numbers. Do not tell students

why these receipts are being collected. Simply inform them that they will be used later

in one of the lesson activities.

IV. Lesson Activities

A glossary is included at the end of this lesson of words and their definitions based on the usage

in lesson readings. You may wish to develop a vocabulary activity or game to help build student

fluency and vocabulary development.

A. Before beginning the lesson distribute Student Handout 1, “Causes of the Amer-

ican Revolution Time Line, 1754–1766.” Tell students that they should refer to

the time line as they study the major events leading to the American Revolution.

The time line provides a chronological sequence of major events and helps students

understand cause-and-effect relationships.

B. Introduce the lesson after reading the textbook account of the Seven Years’ War

(French and Indian War). Using an historical atlas or an American history textbook,

have students point out French, Spanish, and British colonies on the North

American continent in 1750 and 1763. Alternatively, create transparencies from

these maps:

Map 1, North American 1750

http://occawlonline.pearsoned.com/bookbind/pubbooks/divine5e/medialib/

timeline/visuals/visuals_div04.html

Map 2, North America 1763

http://occawlonline.pearsoned.com/bookbind/pubbooks/divine5e/medialib/

timeline/visuals/visuals_div06.html

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The Stamp Act Crisis

Lesson Plan

Remind students that the American colonies considered New France to be a

serious threat to their safety. Review the British land gains in North America in

1763 by the Treaty of Paris. Have students point out on the map Canada ceded

to Britain by France and Florida ceded by France’s ally Spain.

Students should also recognize that France no longer held the vast territory of

Louisiana. French lands west of the Mississippi had been turned over to Spain.

Ask students to predict how the British colonists might react if they no longer

felt the need for protection. It is important for students to understand that as long

as France was a threat to the safety of the colonies they would be willing to rely

on the British for their defense.

C. Remind students that wars are expensive to fight. Divide the class into two

groups, one representing members of the British Parliament and the other

members of colonial assemblies. Give each group the appropriate role card

(Student Handout 2). Allow time for groups to discuss what steps should be

taken to pay off the war debt. Conduct a mock meeting and have a representative

from each group prepare a speech explaining their position. As the speeches are

presented members of the group should applaud or cheer when major points are

made. The opposing side should likewise be vocal in their objections.

On an overhead or poster paper draw interlocking circles of a Venn diagram. As

a class activity, ask students to indicate on the diagram the arguments put forth

by the British and those of the colonists regarding paying for the war and in the

overlapping circle, list policies that both sides agreed upon. Discuss the

possibility of the two opposing sides being able to agree on a compromise policy

of paying the war debt.

Colonial Views

British Views

Shared Views

PAYING FOR THE WAR

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D. Tell students that in 1764 the British Prime Minister, George Grenville,

announced that he would call on Parliament to pass a stamp tax on paper and

official documents similar to one that already existed in England. Grenville,

however, promised to give the colonists a year to come up with an alternate tax.

Colonial assemblies spent the next year voicing their opposition to any type of

stamp tax and argued that they could only be taxed by their own consent.

Distribute Document 1, a brief excerpt from the Stamp Act passed by Parlia-

ment in 1765. You can have students focus on several of the items that required

stamps (e.g., items such as certificates, pamphlets, newspapers, calendars or

others that may be in the classroom). You may want to conduct a scavenger hunt

in the classroom for items that would have required a Stamp Act tax such as a

newspaper, calendar, pamphlet, or even a class or school certificate for

attendance. Ask students how they would feel if they were required to pay a tax

on these items. Have students take the role of colonists and react to the Stamp

Act. Discuss the reasons why colonists were so angry over these stamp taxes.

CONNECTIONS TO THE PRESENT

Distribute the sales slips that students brought to class earlier—these should be

distributed at random. In groups, have students examine the cash register slips.

Ask them to explain why a section of the sales slip has been highlighted. As a

mathematics activity, ask students to determine what percentage of tax was

collected. Continue the discussion asking questions such as:

1) Why are there taxes on certain things?

2) For what are current taxes used?

3) Do citizens today have a responsibility to pay taxes?

4) Do citizens today have a voice in making tax policy?

5) Do you think that the colonial leaders who opposed the Stamp Act would

approve of current taxes? Why or why not?

Be sure that students know that the sales slips they brought to class reflect city

and state taxes. You can further expand the lesson by introducing federal taxes.

Make certain that students understand the difference between taxes imposed by

a parliament in which colonists were not represented and by city, state, and

federal government today in which citizens have a voice through their elected

representatives.

E. Divide the class into six small groups. Give each group a copy of one of the boxed

readings or illustrations in Document 2, “Opposition to the Stamp Act.” Have

the groups discuss how their assigned reading or illustration helps to explain

ways in which American colonists opposed the Stamp Act. Each group should

select a spokesperson to explain their document to the class.

You may have to work with several groups to help them interpret their assigned

task. For example, one of the readings reflects opposition in Nova Scotia to the

The Stamp Act Crisis

Lesson Plan

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Stamp Act. You will need to make sure that students understand that the Stamp

Act applied to all British colonies in North America, not just the 13 that were later

to become the United States. With the Patrick Henry reading, since students

have not yet studied ancient history, it will probably be necessary to briefly tell

them the story of the assassination of Julius Caesar and the execution of King

Charles I so that the group would understand why some members of the House

of Burgesses called Patrick Henry a traitor.

F. Inform students that colonial leaders called for a Stamp Act Congress to meet in

New York in October 1765 to draft a resolution to send to King George III

opposing the Stamp Act. Read the following excerpt from the resolution to the

class. Pause to explain the points the colonists were making.

Resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress

October 19, 1765

The members of this Congress, sincerely devoted . . . to His Majesty’s

person and Government, . . . esteem it our indispensable duty to make the

following declarations of our humble opinion respecting the most

essential rights and liberties of the colonists. . . .

 That His Majesty’s . . . subjects in these colonies are

entitled to all the . . . rights and liberties of his natural

born subjects within the Kingdom of Great Britain.

 That it is . . . essential to the freedom of a people, and

the . . . right of Englishmen, that no taxes be imposed

on them but with their own consent . . .

 That the people of these colonies are not . . .

represented in the House of Commons in Great

Britain.

 That the late Act of Parliament entitled An Act for

granting and applying certain stamp duties, and other

duties, in the British colonies and plantations in America,

etc., by imposing taxes on the inhabitants of these

colonies; and the said Act and several other Acts . . .

subvert the rights and liberties of the colonies.

Ask students if it would have made a difference if the colonies had

representatives in the British Parliament. Ask students to think about the

following before arriving at an answer to the question:

1) Colonists would only have a few votes in the Parliament.

2) The British believed that anyone who served in the Parliament represented

all Englishmen not just the people living in England.

The Stamp Act Crisis

Lesson Plan

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G. Tell students that businesses in England that sold goods to the colonies were

losing money because of the colonial boycott and called on Parliament to repeal

the Stamp Act. The Parliament was forced to repeal the act only a year after it had

passed.

Have the class imagine that they are in the American colonies celebrating the

repeal of the Stamp Act when they are told of a new law passed by Parliament

called the Declaratory Act. Assign a student to be the “Town Crier” and shout

“Hear Ye! Hear Ye! We have a message about a new law passed by Parliament.

Be silent and listen to what Parliament has declared!” The teacher then gives a

dramatic reading of the act.

The Declaratory Act

Whereas several of the houses of representatives in His Majesty’s

colonies . . . have claimed to themselves . . . the sole and exclusive right of

imposing duties and taxes upon His Majesty’s subjects in the said

colonies . . . : may it therefore please Your Most Excellent Majesty that

it may be declared . . . that the . . . Parliament assembled, had, hath, and

of right ought to have, full power and authority to make laws . . . to bind

the colonies and people of America . . . in all cases whatsoever.

And be it further declared . . . that all resolutions, votes, orders, and

proceedings, in any of the . . . colonies . . . whereby the power and authority

of the Parliament of Great Britain to make laws . . . is denied . . . are hereby

declared to be, utterly null and void. . . .

Discuss the act using questions such as:

1) In your opinion, did the colonists win a victory with the repeal of the Stamp

Act?

2) Why do you think that Parliament passed the Declaratory Act on the same

day it repealed the Stamp Act?

3) If you had signed the Resolution of the Stamp Act Congress, how would you

have responded to the Declaratory Act? Explain.

Have students write a letter to the editor of a colonial newspaper stating their

views on the Declaratory Act. In order to emphasize different viewpoints among

the colonists, divide the class into three groups representing:

1) colonists who believed that they had to obey English laws whether they liked

them or not;

2) colonists who were loyal to England but opposed Parliament’s right to pass

tax laws; and,

3) members of the Sons of Liberty.

The Stamp Act Crisis

Lesson Plan

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Select one or two students from each group to read their letters to the class.

Students should recognize that all the colonists did not feel the same way about

England’s right to govern the colonies.

H. On the overhead projector display Transparency Master 1, “Cause and Effect”

Chart. Events are listed in the left column and have students consider the effects

of each of these events. Discuss student responses before filling in the blanks on

the overhead. A sample of a completed chart is provided below. Also ask students

what effect the Proclamation of 1763 had on Native Americans. Have students

consider questions such as:

1) Why would Native Americans believe that the government in England was

protecting their rights to lands west of the Appalachian Mountains?

2) Would Native Americans who supported the French in the Seven Years’

War be more likely to support the British in any future wars? Why?

EVENT

Proclamation

of 1763

Quartering

Act

Stamp Act

Repeal of the

Stamp Act

Declaratory

Act

LEADS TO



EFFECT IN

THE COLONIES

Colonists refuse to obey

Colonies have to provide

shelter for the troops; they

organize protests and

demonstrations

Stamp Act Congress,

boycotts, non-importation

agreements, protests by the

Sons of Liberty

Colonists feel that the

boycotts worked; they

celebrate

Some colonists protested

Parliament’s right to pass

laws to govern the colonies

without their consent

EFFECTS IN

ENGLAND

Troops have to be sent to

enforce the Proclamation

More troops have to be sent

to the colonies to keep order

Merchants loose money

because of the boycotts

Parliament passes the

Declaratory Act

More troops may have to be

sent to enforce laws

The Stamp Act Crisis

Lesson Plan

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I. Divide the class into the previous six small groups. Assign each group a statement

from the list below. Have each group decide on a way to present information to

the class to either support or oppose the assigned statement. Groups may wish to

write and present a brief skit, to present a speech or debate, to draw cartoons, or

to develop tableaus to relay information to the class. Conclude the lesson by a

general class discussion on the major events between 1763 and 1767 that led to

growing conflicts between the English colonies in North America and Britain.

Topics

1) After 1763 the British colonies no longer feared the French.

2) The Proclamation of 1763 was designed to protect the colonists from Native

American attacks.

3) The American colonies should have obeyed British laws.

4) Colonial boycotts of British goods were effective means of protest.

5) Britain should never have passed the Stamp Act.

6) The British Parliament showed weakness when it repealed the Stamp Act.

The Stamp Act Crisis

Lesson Plan

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The Stamp Act Crisis

Student Handout 1

Causes Of The American Revolution

Time Line, 1754–1766

1754 Albany Congress

Benjamin Franklin called for the British

colonies to unite expecting a war with France

in North America.

1756–1763 Seven Years’ War (French And Indian War)

The British defeated the French and took

Canada. France was no longer a threat to the

English colonies in North America.

1763 Proclamation of 1763

The British prohibited [forbade] the colonists

from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains.

1765 Stamp Act

Parliament passed a tax on colonial newspapers,

pamphlets, books, legal documents, and even

dice and playing cards.

1765 Stamp Act Congress

A special meeting was called to protest the

British tax. A group known as the Sons of

Liberty was formed to resist [oppose] British

policy.

1766 Repeal of the Stamp Act

Parliament repealed [abolished] the Stamp Act.

1766 The Declaratory Act

On the same day that Parliament removed the

Stamp Act it passed a Declaratory Act stating

that it had power to pass any laws governing the

American colonies.

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The Stamp Act Crisis

Student Handout 2

Members of the British Parliament

As a member of the British Parliament you are concerned about the large war

debt. Since you believe that the Seven Years’ War was fought primarily for the

protection of the American colonies they should have to help pay the debt.

The people of England are already paying taxes and it would not be fair to have

them pay even more. After all, the French no longer threaten the colonies in

North America. The colonists are the ones who benefited from the war, so they

should have to pay.

For years the North American colonies have not been obeying trade laws. Up to

now Britain has not tried to enforce these laws. We know that some of the

colonial merchants have been smuggling and we must put a stop to these

unlawful activities.

It costs us about 300,000 pounds to keep troops in the colonies. It is time that

they paid for part of that cost. We need to now decide how to raise money to pay

for these expenses.

Members of Colonial Assemblies

The Seven Years’ War, as it is called in Britain, actually began in 1754 in the

Ohio Valley and lasted for nine years. We in the colonies had to fight as well as

the troops sent here from Britain. This war that we call the French and Indian

War cost us dearly. Many of our people living along the frontier were attacked by

Indians and lost their homes and farms.

We are loyal British subjects and have the same rights as any person living in

England. We cannot be taxed by a Parliament in which we have no vote. This is

one of the basic rights of Englishmen. It is only fair that we decide in our colonial

assemblies the taxes we should pay.

Britain won the war with the loyal support of her American colonies. Britain will

benefit from lands taken from the French. Therefore, we should not be expected

to pay the cost of this war. Also, there is no longer a reason to have a large British

army in North America so we object to having troops sent here. We should not

be expected to pay the cost of placing more troops in America.

If the British Parliament tries to tax us, we will have to decide what steps we

should take. We are all loyal to our king and willing to obey any just law, but we

cannot give up our rights as Englishmen to be taxed without our consent.

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The Stamp Act

The Stamp Act passed by Parliament in 1765 listed items that were required to

have a tax stamp. The law was long and detailed. Each item that required a stamp

also included the amount of tax that was to be paid. The act also provided for a

death sentence for any person caught counterfeiting revenue stamps. Some of the

items that were listed are given below.

An act for granting and applying certain stamp duties, and other duties, in the British colonies

and plantations in America, towards further defraying the expenses of defending, protecting,

and securing the same. . . .

For every . . . sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be . . . written, or printed:

. . . any . . . pleading in any court. . . .

. . . any copy of any will. . . .

. . . any . . . certificate of any degree taken in any university, academy, college, or seminary

of learning. . . .

. . . any license, appointment, or admission of any . . . attorney . . . to practice in any

court...

. . . any . . . deed. . . .

. . . And for and upon every pack of playing cards, and all dice. . . .

. . . And for and upon every paper, commonly called a pamphlet, and upon every

newspaper. . . .

. . . For every advertisement to be contained in any . . . newspaper . . .

. . . For every . . . calendar . . .

The Stamp Act Crisis

Document 1

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The following pledge was signed by New York merchants on October 31, 1765,

one day before the Stamp Act was to take effect.

“We the under-written [signers], Retailers of Goods, do hereby promise

and oblige ourselves not to buy any Goods, Wares, or Merchandizes, of

any Person or Persons whatsoever, that shall be shipped from Great-

Britain, after the first Day of January next; unless the Stamp Act shall be

repealed.”

The Stamp Act Crisis

Document 2

Opposition To The Stamp Act

The Pennsylvania Journal announced that the Stamp Act would start on

November 1. The editor of the paper announced that he would refuse to pay the

stamp tax required by Parliament and would stop publishing the paper until they

could find a way to avoid paying the tax.

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The Stamp Act Crisis

Document 2

The Stamp Act went into effect on November 1. On November 7 Benjamin

Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette was printed without the required stamp. The

Pennsylvania Gazette reported the following news had just arrived from Boston.

“We have certain information from Boston, that the printers there intend

to continue their papers, and to risk the penalties—and that if any of

them were to stop on account of the stamp act, their offices would be in

danger from the enraged people . . . .”

People in New York broke into offices

and took the official stamped papers

and burnt them in the streets as crowds

watched.

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Pennsylvania Gazette

November 7, 1765

Benjamin Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette on November 7,

1765, included an article about the lynching in effigy of a

man who was in charge of issuing stamps in the British

colony of Nova Scotia.

“WE hear from Halifax, in the province of Nova-Scotia,

that on Sunday . . . was discovered hanging on the gal-

lows behind the Citadel Hill, the effigies of a stampman,

. . . this we are informed gave great pleasure and satis-

faction to all the friends of liberty and their country

there, as they hope . . . the neighbouring colonies will

oppose this unconstitutional tax. . . . ”

Patrick Henry’s “Treason” Speech

May 30, 1765

Patrick Henry had just been elected to the Vir-

ginia House of Burgesses when the Stamp Act was

being discussed. In his first speech Patrick Henry

criticized the Stamp Act. He said:

• When English settlers came to the American

colonies they brought with them rights that

they had in England.

• Only officials in the colonial assembly who rep-

resented the people could pass taxes for the

colonists.

• Therefore, the British Parliament had no right

to pass tax laws for the colonies.

As he was about to finish Patrick Henry reminded the members of the House of Bur-

gesses that in ancient history Julius Caesar was stabbed to death by Brutus and other

Romans who did not want a dictatorship, that in the seventeenth century King Charles

I of England was beheaded on orders from Cromwell who had defeated the King’s army

in battle. As Patrick Henry spoke, “Caesar had his Brutus, Charles I had his Cromwell,

and King George . . . ” some members of the House of Burgesses interrupted shouting

“Treason!” Patrick Henry paused and then continued, “ . . . if this be treason, make the

most of it.”

The Stamp Act Crisis

Document 2

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EVENT

Proclamation

of 1763

Quartering

Act

Stamp Act

Repeal of the

Stamp Act

Declaratory

Act

LEADS TO



EFFECT IN

THE COLONIES

EFFECTS IN

ENGLAND

The Stamp Act Crisis

Transparency Master 1

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The Stamp Act Crisis

Vocabulary

attorney lawyer

avoid go around; dodge

counterfeit fake or forge; not legal

deed legal document (usually proving ownership of land or a house)

defray to provide payment for

effigy image or figure of a person

gazette newspaper

null and void of no value; not legal; no good

plea a formal request or appeal in a court by a lawyer

pound British unit of money

retailer dealer; one who sells goods to people

wares goods; products

wholesaler merchant; one who sells goods to businesses

will legal document telling how a person’s property should be distributed