The British witnessed these tensions first-hand when the Stamp Act of 1765 was introduced. Colonists bitterly opposed the new direct taxation on printed materials and forced the British Government to eventually repeal the legislation a year later.

“No taxation without representation” became an iconic slogan, as it effectively summarized the colonial outrage at the fact they were being taxed against their will and with no form of representation in Parliament. After the Stamp Act came the introduction of Townshend Duties in 1767 and 1768 – a series of acts that imposed new forms of indirect taxation of goods such as glass, paint, paper, lead and tea. These duties caused outrage in the colonies and became the main root of spontanoeus and violent opposition. Encouraged and rallied by propaganda leaflets and posters, such as those created by Paul Revere, colonists rioted and organized merchant boycotts. Eventually, the colonial response was met with fierce repression.