The Stamp Act 1765: a British Government View of American Resistance

The article examines the complex socio-political process associated with the British government’s attempts to use regular troops to enforce the Stamp Act of 1765 in the American colonies. The main objective of the study is to comprehensively analyze the strategies and actions taken by the British authorities to implement the new tax legislation, as well as to study the reasons that led to the revision and subsequent repeal of this law. The study uses historical-comparative and systemic research methods necessary for a comprehensive analysis of documents and historiography, which allows for a detailed study of the actions of the commander-in-chief of the British troops Henry Conway. Particular attention is paid to the measures taken by the central government to ensure the smooth collection of the tax, as well as the reaction of senior British officials, in particular the Marquis of Rockingham, to the resistance of the American colonies. The analysis includes a study of the reasons that prompted the British government to reconsider its policy and the circumstances that led to the repeal of the Stamp Act. The findings suggest that internal divisions within the government, as well as mounting pressure from the American colonies, played a key role in the repeal of the Act. The study shows that Henry Conway’s actions and approach to managing the military were an important factor in influencing the policy change. Ultimately, the findings of the paper illustrate how internal and external factors interacted in a complex manner to shape the decision to revise and repeal the Stamp Act.