HIST 2010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Stamp Act 1765, Salutary Neglect, Stamp Duty
Document Summary
Major problems faced by colonists were not the same as english, so english did not understand issues faced by colonists. Most of england could not vote due to land requirements, people who were able to vote were usually very wealthy. Sugar act actually lowered sugar taxes, but was problematic because it was actually enforced, where the. Sugar act puts an end to salutary neglect, which was allowing smugglers to smuggle basically at will. Colonists were angered by sugar tax because their economy would be reduced to bartering, should they follow the law. Stamp tax was on printing paper that was pre-stamped. Newspapers and legal documents were taxed via the stamp tax. This was horribly unpopular because the colonies were incredibly literate and free speech is being stomped over. They view stamp tax as affront to entire society. Mobs were burning down homes of collectors, making it unlikely to actually be taxed. Boycotting begins, as violence is not making any headway.
