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Stamp Act DBQ Essay

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Initially, American independence meant freedom against British Crown imposed taxes such as the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts. This can be seen in document one. The first document features a teapot with the words “No Stamp Act” and “America, Liberty, Restored.” (EVIDENCE 1). This was made after the Stamp Act in an effort to get Americans to believe that repealing the Stamp Act would result in America’s freedom. (CONTEXT) (ANALYSIS 1)The writing on the teapot indicates that Americans at that time believed the repeal of the Stamp Act would signify the restoration of American liberty and saw no need for a complete break from the British crown. (REASONING). The second document supports this idea as well. It was written by the House of Burgesses in response to the Townshend acts in order to assert their power over the British Parliament in terms of the right to tax the colonists. (EVIDENCE 2) The document asserts that taxation is a right solely belonging to the House of Burgesses. (CONTEXT) (ANALYSIS 2). It does not suggest the eventual need for a separation from Britain to obtain independence but rather removing the taxes to restore the liberty of the colonies. (REASONING) …show more content…

The Rights of Colonists supports this claim, stating that “in case of intolerable oppression, civil or religious, [people] can leave the society they belong to and enter into another.” (EVIDENCE 3) The author Samuel Adams who was continually involved in the removal of the British tax on America intended to persuade people to support a peaceful leave of Britain amid (historical situation) This goes against the previous idea that a stop of the Crown's taxation would suffice as independence and suggests the idea of separation from British rule. (ANALYSIS

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