Lord Grenville's Struggle With The Stamp Act

The French and Indian War (1755-1763) might have been a victory, but they were still left with a massive war debt. Before the Seven Year War the national debt was 72 million pounds. By the end of the war the debt had raised up to 130 million pounds. April 1763, George Grenville became the British Prime Minister. Lord Grenville was trying to find ways of reducing the war debt, but the further taxation of English citizens in Britain created a serious threat of revolt. Lord Grenville’s plan was to impose the stamp act on the American colonist, rather than taxing the British. “ The Stamp Act was passed on February 17, approved by the House of Lords on March 8th, and received Royal Assent on 22 March 1765. The Stamp Act took effect on November 1, 1765.” With the Stamp Act in effect, American colonists weren’t pleased because they thought they shouldn't have to pay for something they have been utilizing free of charge for many years. "The stamp act imposed a direct tax on the colonists. In 1765 legal documents and printed materials must bear a tax stamp provided by commissioning distributors who would collect the tax in exchange for the stamp." The American

The money collected by the Stamp Act was used to help pay the costs of defending and protecting the American frontier near the Appalachian Mountains. Colonist weren't bothered by immediate cost but rather that they saw the act as a way of raising funds. The congress and colonial assemblies issued petitions against the stamp act, and the colonists decided to go their own way. Opponents of the stamp act called themselves "The Sons of Liberty". Colonist created dummies that were dressed to represent the stamp agents which were then hung and burnt. Other colonial towns mobbed the stamp distributors and threatened them and their property. If they allowed the new tax act to pass without resistance, there could be more trouble of taxation in the