March 18
On March 18, 1766 British Parliament repealed the Stamp Act. Having achieved its one-year anniversary, implementation of the Act led to unrest and protest in the colonies. Boycotts of British goods ensued across the thirteen (13) colonies.
“This Year 1765 was the Epocha of the Stamp Act…. I drew up a Petition to the Select Men of Braintree, and procured it to be signed by a Number of the respectable Inhabitants, to call a Meeting of the Town to instruct their Representatives in Relation to the Stamps. The public Attention of the whole Continent was alarmed, and my Principles and political Connections were well known…. I prepared a Draught of Instructions, at home and carried them with me…” ~ John Adam’s
Having lost the Stamp Act battle, Parliament doubled down with the enactment of the Declaratory Act, granting itself total legislative power over the colonies.
Declaratory Act
In British speak, An Act for the better securing the Dependency of His Majesty’s Dominions in America upon the Crown and Parliament of Great Britain.
In hindsight ‘twas a bit overbearing and simply too much for Americans to handle. Tensions continued to mount and settlers rebellion continued for near a decade, culminating in the American Revolution.
TraceyC Media 