The Stamp Act of 1765 was a direct tax imposed by the British Parliament on all paper goods sold in the American colonies. The act required that all paper used in the colonies, including newspapers, pamphlets, legal documents, and even playing cards, be stamped with a special stamp that indicated the tax had been paid. The cost of the stamps varied depending on the type of paper and the purpose for which it was being used. The Stamp Act was unpopular in the colonies and led to widespread protest and resistance. The colonists argued that the act was a violation of their rights as British subjects, as they were not represented in Parliament and had no say in the imposition of the tax. The Stamp Act was eventually repealed in 1766, but it had a profound impact on the relationship between the British government and the American colonies and helped to lay the groundwork for the American Revolution.