Worlds Turned Upside Down Episode 10: The Stamp
Sep 13, 2024
In this engaging discussion, historian Jon Kukla delves into the British government's strategic fear of France, leading to plans for a standing army and the controversial Stamp Act. Alexandra Montgomery highlights the land rushes in Nova Scotia as colonists scrambled to beat the impending tax deadline. The conversation also explores the growing unrest among colonists, their fierce resistance through riots and protests, and the eventual economic pressures that led to the Stamp Act's repeal. A fascinating look at a foundational moment in American history!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Liberty Tree Effigy and Ransack
- Bostonians hanged an effigy of Andrew Oliver from the Liberty Tree to protest the Stamp Act.
- They then destroyed his new shop, ransacked his home, and burned the effigy on Fort Hill.
Army Planning Drove Tax Policy
- George III planned a standing army in North America anticipating future war with France.
- Grenville proposed taxing the colonies to help pay the estimated annual cost of that force.
Parliament vs. Colonial Autonomy
- Grenville insisted Parliament's power to tax the colonies was unquestionable.
- He viewed parliamentary taxation as necessary to assert sovereignty over North America.
