The Stamp Act Congress Historical Essay Example

The Stamp Act Congress is the most important event that led to the American Revolution as this was the starting point for the colonial Americans to become stronger in getting independence from Great Britain. First, the idea of colonies working together as a whole was raised. In June 1765, a Massachusetts legislature committee named James Otis sent out intercolonial convention invitations to all the 13 American colonial delegates for the purpose of deciding on a united course of policy against the Stamp Act that was issued by the British Parliament in March 1765. As a result, nine out of thirteen colonies sent representatives to the Federal Hall building in New York City and discussed their plan together from October 7 to 25 in 1765. Starting from the “road to revolution” with the Proclamation Line of 1763, the Stamp Act Congress was the first gathering of elective representatives from several American colonies and was the first time the colonists decided to work together to fight against British taxation. The conference not only generated a sense of unity but also delivered a message to everyone that the Patriots had the power to fight back and they were no longer to stay silent, which played an important role in boosting the colonists’ morale. Next, the rights of American colonists were reasserted during the Stamp Act Congress. On October 14, 1765, the “Declaration of Rights and Grievances” was issued which listed that “no taxes [should] be imposed on [the American colonists], but with their own consent, given personally, or by their representatives''. The stating of American colonists had the same rights as the British citizens and that taxation without a colonial representative in the Parliament is unconstitutional in the document defended colonists’ civil rights in relation to Great Britain. After the “Declaration of Rights and Grievances” was written, the colonies became more unified by starting to boycott British goods as now they had the right to challenge the desires of the British. Lastly, the Stamp Act Congress successfully strengthened the awareness of cooperation between the colonies. After a few months of unremitting efforts, the Stamp Act was officially repealed by the British Parliament on March 18, 1766. The positive response to the Stamp Act Congress gave incentives to the colonists that they had the power to impact and fight against the British policies when they were unified together, which further successfully set a model for the future organized movements against the British policies such as the Boston Tea Party in 1773 and The First Continental Congress in 1774. In conclusion, the Stamp Act Congress gave no turning point to the American Revolution as it started the road of unifying the colonies and knitting Americans to work together for their own desire, which was the necessary first step toward revolution and a successful fight for independence.