Introduction
For purposes of finding revenue meant to meet the needs of a country, most governments have resorted in securing taxes from its citizen on every item purchased or owned. The stamp duty is specifically meant to tax every document in the possession of individuals. For instance, it incorporates, land documents, marriage certificates, receipts of purchased items, military commissions, and cheques among other legal documents. The Stamp Act was the first tax that targeted all American colonists around 1765 by the British government primarily to collect revenue that would help the authorities to fulfill their needs considering that they were in great debts after the period of wars (Stoff, & Heyrman, 2017). The Act was faced with lots of opposition from the North American colonists who insisted that the move was unconstitutional. Some of the key controversies that contributed to the opposition of tax on every acquired document was the fact that during this era, taxes were purposely meant to control trade and not for raising revenue. Moreover, American colonialists felt that the British government had not sought approval from the colonial legislature.
From the resolutions of the Stamp Act, some of the significant clauses outlined by the British government primarily targeted the entire Briton colonialist residing in America on the basis of treating them in a similar manner as those in the native land. For instance, the clause stating: ‘that His Majesty’s subjects in these colonies owe the same allegiance to the Crown of Great Britain that is owing from his subjects born within the realm, and all due subordination to that august body the Parliament of Great Britain;’ is a clear indication that every British citizen must adhere to the regulations from the authorities despite their place of residence (Stoff, & Heyrman, 2017). Hence, in this case, the American colonists were not exceptional from the legislature approved by His Majesty’s powers. Moreover, the second statement emphasizes on the rights that every Briton worldwide has just like the natural born individuals who are within and under the British Kingdom. That is, ‘His Majesty’s liege subjects in these colonies are entitled to all the inherent rights and liberties of his natural born subjects within the kingdom of Great Britain.’ From these statements, it is evident that the colonialists in America were protected by the Majesty’s authority with the favor that native British citizens enjoyed inform of rights was also allocated to various colonies of the Englishmen across the globe (Stoff, & Heyrman, 2017).
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The controversies of the Stamp Act and the restrictions it had over the British colonies in America were also settled from the clause that stated; ‘That the people of these colonies are not, and from their local circumstances cannot be, represented in the House of Commons in Great Britain.’ It is ironical that the presiding statement indicates that no taxes to be imposed on any Englishmen unless they consented to do so voluntarily (Stoff, & Heyrman, 2017). It is difficult to understand the position of the British Government upon their colonies in other countries considering that they are given the liberty to govern themselves yet are also require owing the same allegiance as natives within the kingdom. Furthermore, while they are provided the same level of rights as subjects in Britain, colonies are denied the opportunity of being represented in the House of Commons in Great Britain, conditions that indicate double standards of the authorities (Stoff,, & Heyrman, 2017). While colonists were not represented in Great Britain in the House of Commons, they had the opportunity of choosing their own representatives by use of the relevant legislature.
Following the disparity of the Stamp Act even after the creation of the resolutions, a Declaratory Act was formulated primarily to repeal the legislation of taxes on legal documentation and to emphasize on the authority that the British Government had over the colonies. The Declaratory Act highlighted the rebellion of all the British colonies representatives in America who had failed to adhere to the legislation of the government (Stoff, & Heyrman, 2017). The Declaratory insisted on the need for subjects of British colonies in America to pay taxes and pledge allegiance to His Majesty’s authorities. The Act indication of the passing of votes and resolutions by representatives of the colonies was considered derogatory to the parliament’s authorities contributing to inconsistencies and their dependency on the crown of Great Britain. Moreover, emphasis on the ownership of plantation by the British colonies in America was required to be subordinate and fully dependent on the authorities of Great Britain.
Conclusion
The governance of Great Britain upon its colonies in America resulted to the conflict between the authorities and the colonists' subjects. Stamp duty Act required the British colonies in America to pay taxes on every legal document acquired especially the plantation and commerce. Their opposition to the move of the British government and its parliament contributed to the implementation of resolutions of the Act that was geared towards making sure that there was an agreement between the parties involved. Unfortunately, the clauses in the resolutions were controversial whereby, while the colonies were expected to pledge allegiance to the Crown of Great British just like the native subjects born within the kingdom, Parliament had no business in ensuring that matters that concerned them were looked into, neither were their representatives offered opportunity in the House of Commons. The controversies that revolved around the Stamp Duty Act resulted to the rebellion of the British colonies in America who later after many years attacked the authorities under His Majesty’s Crown.
References
Stoff, M. B., Lytle, M. H., DeLay, B., Davidson, J. W., & Heyrman, C. L. (2017). US: A Narrative History Volume 1: To 1877. McGraw-Hill Education.
