LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Stamp
Act

WHEREAS, It is the duty of this Legislative Body to bring such civic
awareness as is due to significant and influential events memorialized
in our national heritage; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commemorate the
250th Anniversary of the 1765 Stamp Act in recognition of the Act's
impact on our Nation's founding; and
WHEREAS, The Stamp Act was legislated by the British Parliament on
March 22, 1765 as the Duties in the American Colonies Act of 1765 and
required colonists to use British printed paper affixed with a stamp for
many official documents, including newspapers; and
WHEREAS, The Stamp Act was immediately met with vigorous and sustained
opposition by those colonists who pioneered the foundational principle
of no taxation without representation; and
WHEREAS, The Act catalyzed the opposition by the 'Sons of Liberty,'
which counted among its members such celebrated individuals as Samuel
Adams, John Adams, John Hancock, Patrick Henry and Paul Revere and is
best known for planning the Boston Tea Party; and
WHEREAS, In response to the Act, the Stamp Act Congress was held
between October 5 and 27, 1765, in the Federal Hall of New York at 26
Wall Street, which later became our nation's first Capitol and the site
of President George Washington's oath of office; and
WHEREAS, The Stamp Act Congress marked the first meeting of democrat-
ically elected representatives from among the Thirteen Colonies; and
WHEREAS, The Stamp Act Congress issued the Declaration of Rights and
Grievances, officially enshrining the principle of no taxation without
representation in the political discourse; and
WHEREAS, The British Parliament ultimately repealed the Stamp Act, but
passed myriad other Intolerable Acts contributing to the colonists'
desire for independence; and
WHEREAS, The Stamp Act is a pivotal piece of American history that,
together with other important historical events, ultimately led to our
representative democracy; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the Stamp Act, and the critical
role the Stamp Act played in our Nation's independence; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Federal Hall National Memorial at 26 Wall Street in
Manhattan.