STAMP ACT. In American history, an act passed by the British Parliament and signed for George Ill. (then insane) March 22, 1765, "for granting and supplying certain stamp duties, and other duties, in the Brit ish colonies and plantations in America, towards further defraying the expenses of defending, pro tecting, and securing the same." This act, which was to go into effect on November 1st, prescribed (I) that stamped paper be used for legal and official documents, diplomas. and certificates; (2) that stamiv, be placed on playing cards, dice, books (excepting those used in the schools), newspapers, pamphlets, calendars, almanacs, and various other articles; and (3) that jury trial be denied to offenders at the discretion of the authorized prosecuting officers. Lord Grenville had given notice in March, 1764, of an intention to introduce such an act, and the various colonies had protested vigorously through their author ized agents, hut had been unable to suggest any satisfactory substitute. News of its actual pas sage reached America early in May, 1765, and im mediately a fierce opposition everywhere mani fested itself on the ground that the colonists were not represented in Parliament and therefore could not legally be taxed without their formal consent. It was urged, moreover, that the duties would be exceedingly burdensome and would saute the withdrawal from circulation of what little specie there was in various colonies. The stamp agents were nearly everywhere compelled by the 'Sons of Liberty' (q.v.) to resign or to destroy their stamps, or both. while many of them were mobbed and much property was de stroyed; so that by the time it was to go into effect the act had been virtually nullified.
Resolutions, moreover. were passed by many of the colonial assemblies. notably by Vir ginia (May 30th) (see HENRY. PATRICK), insisting on the general rights of the col onists as British subjects, and denying the jurisdiction of Parliament over the colonial pocketbook. The famous Stamp Act Congress, composed of delegates from New York, Massa chusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and South Carolina, assembled at New York on October 7th, in pursuance of a circular letter sent out June 8th by Massachusetts. and issued a dignified "Declaration of Rights and Grievances," a formal address to the King, and petitions to each House of Parliament. In addition many able pamphlets were written to oppose the act, and on Novem ber 1st, when it was to go into effect, bells were tolled. flags were placed at half-mast, and news papers were put in mourning. Finally, on March IS, 1766, after a long and bitter debate, Parlia ment repealed the objectionable measure, having previously, however, passed (March 7th) a "De claratory Act" asserting a right to "bind the colonies and people of America . . in all cases whatsoever." The repeal caused great re joicing throughout America, though dissatisfac tion was soon expressed with regard to the Declaratory Act, The whole affair has been re garded as one of the chief immediate causes of the Revolution. For the text of the act, consult PiGkering's statutes at Large, xxvi. Consult also Frothingham, Rise of the Republic (Boston, 1872), and Tyler, Literary history of the Amer ican Revolution (New York, 1S96).