List of Living U.S. Presidents and Former Presidents

American Revolution The Stamp Act of 1765

In the wake of Britain victory in the Seven Years/French Indian War, the nation found itself with a burgeoning national debt that had reached  £130,000,000 by 1764. In addition, the government of the Earl of Bute made the decision to retain a standing army of 10,000 men in North America for colonial defense as well as to provide employment for politically connected officers. While Bute had made this decision, his successor, George Grenville, was left with finding a way to service the debt and pay for the army. Taking office in April 1763, Grenville began examining taxation options for raising the necessary funds. Blocked by the politic climate from increasing taxes in Britain, he sought to find ways to produce the needed income by taxing the colonies. His first action was the introduction of the Sugar Act in April 1764. Essentially a revision of the earlier Molasses Act, the new legislation actually reduced the levy with the goal of increasing compliance. In the colonies, the tax was opposed due to its negative economic effects and increased enforcement which hurt smuggling activities. The Stamp Act In passing the Sugar Act, Parliament indicated that a stamp tax could be forthcoming. Commonly used in Britain with great success, stamp taxes were levied on documents, paper goods, and similar items. The tax was collected at purchase and a tax stamp affixed to the item showing that it had been paid. Stamp taxes had been previously proposed for the colonies and Grenville had examined draft stamp acts on two occasions in late 1763. Towards the end of 1764, petitions and news of colonial protests regarding the Sugar Act reached Britain. Though asserting Parliaments right to tax the colonies, Grenville met with colonial agents in London, including Benjamin Franklin, in February 1765. In the meetings, Grenville informed the agents that he was not opposed to the colonies suggesting another approach to raising the funds. While none of the agents offered a viable alternative, they were adamant that the decision should be left to the colonial governments. Needing to find the funds, Grenville pushed the debate into Parliament. After a lengthy discussion, the Stamp Act of 1765 was passed on March 22 with an effective date of November 1. Colonial Response to the Stamp Act As Grenville began to appoint stamp agents for the colonies, opposition to the act began to take form across the Atlantic. Discussion of the stamp tax had begun the previous year following its mention as part of the passage of the Sugar Act. Colonial leaders were particularly concerned as the stamp tax was the first internal tax to be levied on the colonies. Also, the act stated that admiralty courts would have jurisdiction over offenders. This was viewed as an attempt by Parliament to lessen the power of the colonial courts. The key issue that quickly emerged as the centerpiece of colonial complaints against the Stamp Act was that of taxation without representation. This derived from the 1689 English Bill of Rights which forbade the imposition of taxes without the consent of Parliament. As the colonists lacked representation in Parliament, taxes imposed upon them were deemed to be a violation of their rights as Englishmen. While some in Britain stated that the colonists received virtual representation as members of Parliament theoretically represented the interests of all British subjects, this argument was largely rejected. The issue was further complicated by the fact that the colonists elected their own legislatures. As a result, it was the colonists belief that their consent to taxation rested with them rather than Parliament. In 1764, several colonies created Committees of Correspondence to discuss the repercussions of the Sugar Act and to coordinate action against it. These committees remained in place and were used to plan colonial responses to the Stamp Act. By the end of 1765, all but two the colonies had sent formal protests to Parliament. In addition, many merchants began boycotting British goods. While colonial leaders were pressuring Parliament through official channels, violent protests erupted throughout the colonies. In several cities, mobs attacked stamp distributors houses and businesses as well as those of government officials. These actions were partially coordinated by a growing network of groups known as the Sons of Liberty. Forming locally, these groups were soon communicating and a loose network was in place by the end of 1765. Usually led by members of the upper- and middle-class, the Sons of Liberty worked to harness and direct the rage of the working classes. The Stamp Act Congress In June 1765, the Massachusetts Assembly issued a circular letter to the other colonial legislatures suggesting that members meet to consult together on the present circumstances of the colonies. Convening on October 19, the Stamp Act Congress met in New York and was attended by nine colonies (the rest later endorsed its actions). Meeting behind closed doors, they produced the Declaration of Rights and Grievances which stated that only colonial assemblies had the right to tax, the use of admiralty courts was abusive, colonists possessed the Rights of Englishman, and Parliament did not represent them. Repeal of the Stamp Act In October 1765, Lord Rockingham, who had replaced Grenville, learned of the mob violence that was sweeping across the colonies. As a result, he soon came under pressure from those who did not wish Parliament to back down and those whose business enterprises were suffering due to the colonial protests. With business hurting, London merchants, under the guidance of Rockingham and Edmund Burke, began their own committees of correspondence to bring pressure on Parliament to repeal the act. Disliking Grenville and his policies, Rockingham was more predisposed to the colonial point of view. During the repeal debate, he invited Franklin to speak before Parliament. In his remarks, Franklin stated that the colonies were largely opposed to internal taxes, but willing to accept external taxes. After much debate, Parliament agreed to repeal the Stamp Act with the condition that the Declaratory Act be passed. This act stated that Parliament had the right to make laws for the colonies in all matters. The Stamp Act was officially repealed on March 18, 1766, and the Declaratory Act passed the same day. Aftermath While unrest in the colonies subsided after the Stamp Act was repealed, the infrastructure that it created remained in place. The Committees of Correspondence, Sons of Liberty, and system of boycotts were to be refined and used later in protests against future British taxes. The larger constitutional issue of taxation without representation remained unresolved and continued to be a key part of colonial protests. The Stamp Act, along with future taxes such as the Townshend Acts, helped push the colonies along the path towards the American Revolution. Selected Sources Colonial Williamsburg: The Stamp Act of 1765Indiana University: The Stamp ActAmerican Revolution: The Stamp Act

Essay on The Power Of Language - 1283 Words

The Power of Language nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Of all possible human qualities, the one that wields the most power is the ability to use, understand and communicate effectively through language. A proficient use of language allows us to clearly communicate an exact idea from one person to another person or group of people. This precise science of being able to convey exactly what you want equates to the acquisition of power. An important link between language and power is persuasion. The power of persuasion is so strong it allows certain individuals to influence, and therefore, control thousands, even millions, of people and bind them together in search of one common cause. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;This tactic of†¦show more content†¦Through Goebbels, Hitler gained power over the press, radio, theater, films, music, and literature. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;People naturally have this feeling, or intuition, about something. They know how they feel and believe about a subject, but it is something that they dont take the time to verbalize; they merely contain it in their minds as a belief. However, there are certain people who verbalize and put into words these internal feelings of the masses and gain the trust of the people. These certain people are our leaders. By speaking about and placing importance on the beliefs and values that these people have never before heard articulated, the leaders gain the confidence of the people. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Political leaders are the primary examples of the people we put our trust in. In 1960, John F. Kennedy was elected to the office of President after four nationally televised debates against vice-president Richard Nixon. It was generally conceded that these debates helped Kennedy more than Nixon. In April of 1961, after Russia successfully launched the first man into outer space, John Kennedy asked for a greatly increased budget for space research. Kennedy said, powerfully, â€Å"I believe that this nation should commit itself, to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon, and returning him safely to the earth.† Kennedy is considered to have beenShow MoreRelatedLanguage : The Power Of Language1575 Words   |  7 PagesThe Power Of Language What is the meaning of language? How big the role of language in your life? Have you ever realize the impact of language in your life? In my opinion, language is not as simple as people seen in general. Usually the way people see language just as a tool for communicating with others. For me, behind the general usage of language, it also has a big role in our life because a language has the power to stand and show each person’s identity. 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Human Population Growth and its free essay sample

Pioneer Press writer Chris Niskanen accesses his view on Minnesota’s natural resources on â€Å"Having watched Minnesota’s natural resources decline during my lifetime and watched our financial commitments to fix the problem wither, I’m convinced this amendment is the best chance to maintain what we have and take incremental steps toward improvement. Over the past fifteen years, I’ve traveled many times to every corner of the state and invariably I talk to outdoors people who worry that the ducks, songbirds, prairies, clean lakes and rivers won’t be as abundant for their children.† This man makes a very good point. As a sophomore, I am worried that, in the future, my children might not be able to go to a state park and see massive glaciers, bald eagles, buffalo, or smell the wild flowers. Throughout history mankind has been able to adapt the environment to fit our needs, but very recently we have begun to ask ourselves, â€Å"What happens next?† What will happen when we push past the edge of the cliff and there are not enough resources to sustain our ever-growing population. We will write a custom essay sample on Human Population Growth and its or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page We have already begun to see the ugly face of over population in many disturbing ways, such as its effect on global warming and the dwindle of natural resources. According to Oxford American Dictionary, Global warming is described as the increase in the overall temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere due to the Green House Effect caused by increasing levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and other pollutants. Carbon dioxide has always been in our atmosphere, but was kept at a delicate percentage in balance with oxygen, nitrogen, and other chemicals. With the increased burning of fossil fuels caused by population increase, that delicate percentage has increased and caused the Green House Effect. The Green House Effect causes the trapping of inferred radiation in our atmosphere. By keeping that inferred in our atmosphere, the Earth has begun to radically heat, causing our Polar Ice Caps to decrease in size. The Earth is heating and the atmosphere is warmer the annual sn owfall at the Poles has greatly been reduced causing less ice build up on the glacier, and also because there is less ice built up in one Winter in the melting season now lasts longer; the Polar Caps are decreasing in size and breaking off at alarmingly high rates. Three percent of the Earth’s water is fresh water, two percent is in the glaciers, point seven percent is in the lakes, and point three percent lies underground. To me those do not sound like very good percentages with increasing population more and more people will need fresh water for drinking. Drinkable water is not the only resource that is in jeopardy, as the human population increases, so does the amount of polluted water for marine life. Our air, oceans, and soil have long ago reached their delicate tipping point. Pollution affects our wildlife with an increase in the number of endangered and extinct species. â€Å"What’s a few weird animals gone?† some say. The truth is that life is linked, i t’s woven into the very health of our planet. Take, for example, the fact that many fish species and marine life need a very specific water temperature. Increase or decrease that water temperature by a few degrees both way and entire species of plants and animals die out. When a species dies out, it affects the entire food chain. Many people wouldn’t raise an eyebrow until it hits them in the wallet and causes a spike in the price of their favorite fresh fish. There are many possibilities for the future, some disturbing, but some also give me hope. Awareness is the first step. I think the more we educate ourselves, the more we find ways to help our most critical and damaged areas of the containing Earth’s most precious resources. The Green House Effect is nothing new. It’s not a new term when talking about ways to save our planet. As we move forward in advances in education and technology we are committed to search for new and innovative ways to replenish natural resources once taken for granted and stripped from our fragile world. Some day maybe the human race will finally make changes in the way we live today to live life better tomorrow.