The Stamp Act of 1765
What was it?
This was a tax put on all papers: wills, deeds ,newspapers, pamphlets, dice, and playing cards. Anything that a person paid a tax for, that document was given a stamp. This is how military officials knew if you were paying the tax or not.
Importance:
Military officers were the main enforces for this Act. They were given Writs of Assistance which was a document that allowed these officers to conduct general (non-specific) searches of a Colonists house. It was meant to search for contraband (illegal items). However, anything that was found that was outside the law, a document with no stamp for example, could be taken away. The Colonist would also be punished for not paying the tax.
This was a tax put on all papers: wills, deeds ,newspapers, pamphlets, dice, and playing cards. Anything that a person paid a tax for, that document was given a stamp. This is how military officials knew if you were paying the tax or not.
Importance:
Military officers were the main enforces for this Act. They were given Writs of Assistance which was a document that allowed these officers to conduct general (non-specific) searches of a Colonists house. It was meant to search for contraband (illegal items). However, anything that was found that was outside the law, a document with no stamp for example, could be taken away. The Colonist would also be punished for not paying the tax.