The Stamp Act, passed by Parliament in 1765, was an act that required all legal and commercial documents to carry an official stamp showing a tax had been paid. The purpose of the Stamp Act was to raise income to pay for the military presence in the American colonies to enforce the new taxes. It also implemented new taxes on paper documents. The Stamp Act was enacted on March 22, 1765 by Parliament of Great Britain. People were taxed on everything that was on printed paper such as diplomas, contracts, and wills. Newspapers had to be written on special stamped paper. Colonists had to pay with silver coins which was a scarce item in the colonies. Parliament decided to pass the Stamp Act because it helped to help pay for British troops stationed
