Name: ___________________________________ Date: __________________ Period: _______

Stamp Act DBQ

Directions: the following question is based on the accompanying documents (1- 8). Some of these documents have been edited for the purposes of task. This question is designed to test your ability to

work with historic documents. As you analyze the documents, take into account both the sources of the document  and  the  author’s  point  of  view.

Historical Background: Following the French & Indian War, Great Britain was left with a considerable amount of debt. In an attempt to raise revenue the British Parliament passed the Sugar Act in 1764. Following a series of protests and a negative impact on the colonial economy the act was repealed two years later. Great Britain continued to seek alternative ways to raise revenue by passing the Stamp Act. Colonial assemblies voiced their opposition and argued that they could only be taxed by their own consent. Task: Describe the purpose and requirements of the Stamp Act and explain how the British Colonies reacted to it.

Part A: Short Answer The documents below relate information about the Stamp Act and the colonial reaction to it. Examine each document carefully, and then answer the question that follows it. These answers will help you in part B.

Part B: Paragraph Response Using the documents above, your answer to the questions in Part A, and your knowledge of social studies, write a well-developed paragraph that includes an introduction, support points (use specific evidence from the documents) and a conclusion. In your paragraph you will describe the purpose and requirements of the Stamp Act and explain how the British Colonies reacted to it. Reflection Questions: Document 1: A Brief Excerpt from the Stamp Act

1. What was the Stamp Act and what were some of the items that required a stamp?

2. Why did colonists get so angry over having to pay a stamp act on these items? (Hint: think about what types of items needed stamps and how people use/need those)

3. What was the penalty for creating fake (counterfeit) stamps?

Document 2: Resolution to King George III opposing Stamp Act 1. What are the reasons the colonial Stamp Act Congress gives for opposing the tax? (List 3)

2. Would it have made a difference if the colonies had representatives in the British Parliament? Explain.

3. Would it have made a difference if the colonies had representatives in the British Parliament, if the colonists only had a small amount of votes in the Parliament?

Document 3: An editorial from the Pennsylvania Journal

1. How did the editor feel about the Stamp Act tax?

2. What did he do to protest the Stamp Act?

3. Do you think this was an effective protest strategy? Explain. (Hint: think about what the Stamp Act taxed)

Document 4: A pledge by New York Merchants

1. When was this pledge made?

2. How are the New York merchants protesting the Stamp Act?

3. Do you think this was an effective protest strategy? Explain

Document  5:  An  Excerpt  from  Benjamin  Franklin’s  Pennsylvania  Gazette 1. What are the papers in Boston going to do to protest the Stamp Act?

2. How do you think the colonial people impacted Boston’s  paper  decision? Document 6: An image and caption of protests in New York

1. How are the New York colonials protesting the Stamp Act?

2. Do you think this was an effective protest strategy? Explain

Document 7: Description of a protest in Nova Scotia (Effigy = Doing something as a model) 1. How are the Nova Scotia (located in common day Canada) colonials protesting the Stamp Act?

2. What was the goal of creating this effigy?

3. Do you think this was an effective protest strategy? Explain Document 8: A speech by Patrick Henry to the Virginia House of Burgess

1. What reasons does Patrick Henry give to argue against the Stamp Act? List at least 2

2. What  is  Patrick  Henry  implying  (suggesting)  he  might  do  to  King  George  III,  when  he  says  “  Caesar had his Brutus, Charles I had his Cromwell, and King George…”?

3. How  do  the  other  members  of  Virginia’s  House  of  Burgess  react  to  this  part  of  the  speech?

4. Based on their reaction, what can we infer about how colonists felt about declaring independence in 1766?

Document 1: A Brief Excerpt from the Stamp Act

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 . . .

Document 2: Resolution to King George III opposing Stamp Act

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.

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.

Document 3: An editorial from the Pennsylvania Journal

Document 4: A pledge by New York Merchants

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.”

Document  5:  An  Excerpt  from  Benjamin  Franklin’s  Pennsylvania  Gazette

Document 6: An image and caption of protests in New York

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  .  .  .  .”

Document 7: Description of a protest in Nova Scotia

Document 8: A speech by Patrick Henry to the Virginia House of Burgess

Paragraph Prompts

Part B: Paragraph Response Using the documents above, your answer to the questions in Part A, and your knowledge of social studies, write a well-developed paragraph that includes an introduction, support points (use specific evidence from the documents) and a conclusion. In your paragraph you will describe the purpose and requirements of the Stamp Act and explain how the British Colonies reacted to it. Directions: Complete the prompt worksheet using the answers from Part A of the DBQ. Try to use specific examples or evidence from the documents when creating your supporting points.

o Introduction: Introduce what the Stamp Act was and how the colonist reacted to it.

o Supporting Point: Why was the Stamp Act passed and what did it do?

o Document used to support point: _______________________

o Supporting Point: How did the colonies react and what did they do?

o Document used to support point: _______________________

o Supporting Point: How did the colonies react and what did they do?

o Document used to support point: _______________________

o Supporting Point: How did the colonies react and what did they do?

o Document used to support point: _______________________

o Conclusion: How did the Stamp Act impact the relationship between the British Colonies and Great Britain?