Stamp Act History Project

The law was named after Charles Tonshend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. It was designed as a smarter way to raise revenue as opposite to the heavy-handed Stamp Act passed a year earlier. The new law introduced a series of duties on common imports (such as paper, paint, glass, etc.) rather than taxing income. The law also directed the proceeds from the new duties to governors rather than colonial assemblies. But despite the new tactics the Act was also extremely unpopular causing widespread protests and the subsequent response by the Britain dissolving Massachusetts legislature. One of the most famous protest was the Boston Massacre of 1770.