The French and Indian War had caused a major debt in England
In 1765, Prime Minister George Grenville passed a law saying that the colonists had to buy a stamp for every piece of paper they used, including newspapers, wills, and playing cards
The colonists rebelled against this, even though they were willing to pay taxes to England, because the law had been created without the colonies having a say in the decision
The colonists called the Stamp Act "taxation without representation"
Some colonists sent letters to parliament and some of them refused to buy the stamps
A group called the Sons of Liberty attacked taxers' homes and once tried to bury a taxer alive
Parliament canceled the act after months of protest