The stamp act
The British (and the colonists) began to have conflicts with the French and the Native Americans after the French and Indian War, so to help fund troops to defend the American borders, the Parliament passed a taxation law called the Stamp Act on March 22, 1765. This Act put a small tax on all printed paper goods in the colonies. This included all newspapers, legal documents, and even playing cards.
Though the actual cost of the extra tax was not too large, the colonists were outraged. Before, taxes had only been put into place for the purpose of regulating trade in the colonies, not to raise money, no matter what the cause was. The patriots believed that if they allowed this tax to continue on unopposed, the Parliament would begin to tax them on other imports simply to gain revenue. Something had to be done, the patriots insisted. The colonists, led by the Sons of Liberty, began to protest against the Stamp Act, soon turning violent against the British tax collectors stationed in the colonies, forcing the Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act in 1766.
Though the actual cost of the extra tax was not too large, the colonists were outraged. Before, taxes had only been put into place for the purpose of regulating trade in the colonies, not to raise money, no matter what the cause was. The patriots believed that if they allowed this tax to continue on unopposed, the Parliament would begin to tax them on other imports simply to gain revenue. Something had to be done, the patriots insisted. The colonists, led by the Sons of Liberty, began to protest against the Stamp Act, soon turning violent against the British tax collectors stationed in the colonies, forcing the Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act in 1766.