The Stamp Act was sponsored by George Grenville and it took effect on November 1, 1765.  It was the first direct tax imposed by Britain on its American colonies.  The Act was created to help cover the cost of maintaining troops in the colonies.

Under the Stamp Act, all printed materials and commercial documents as well as printed material including, newspapers, pamphlets, bills, legal documents, licenses, almanacs, dice and playing cards, were taxed and had to carry a special stamp.  Thus for the first time in the 150 year old history of the British colonies in America, Americans had to pay tax not to their own local legislatures in America, but directly to England.

The American colonists opposed the Act because they could not pay the tax, and because it violated the new principle of "No taxation without representation."  The Stamp Act paved the way for the American Revolution.  The colonist strongly protested and resisted, the Stamp Act and it was repealed on March 18, 1766.
 
 

The British further angered American colonists with the Quartering Act, which required the colonies to provide barracks and supplies to British troops.  The Quartering Act was passed in June 2, 1765, against the wishes of the colonist.

The Quartering Act was an indirect tax for the colonist. Under the law, the colonist had to give quarters, food, and transportation to the British soldiers.  The British forced the colonist to accept it because they were protecting the colonists from the French.  The colonists did not consider the French a threat and did not like the idea of paying for the British protection.