Stamp Act History Project

This British law was an attempt to curb the smuggling that flourished in the colonies by reducing the previous tax rate and enforcing the collection of duties. It was introduced by the new British prime minister, George Grenville. The new law reduced the previous tax on sugar and molasses in half and allowed the customer to try violators in admiralty courts rather than local colonial courts. Because of the strict enforcement the act did accomplish it’s goal of reducing smuggling which affected colonial economy, especially in Massachusetts. The protests against the act were moderate, but it nevertheless promoted boycott of British luxury goods in some colonies and gave some boost to local manufacturing.