Which event marked the beginning of British taxation that led to American discontent?

The Stamp Act is recognized as a pivotal event that initiated widespread American discontent toward British taxation. Enacted in 1765, this legislation required that many printed materials in the colonies, including newspapers, legal documents, and certificates, be produced on stamped paper produced in London, carrying an embossed revenue stamp. This direct tax was significant because it affected a broad range of colonists, igniting protests and widespread resistance.

The outrage over the Stamp Act was instrumental in rallying the colonists against British authority and set the stage for further acts of rebellion. It led to the formation of groups such as the Sons of Liberty, who organized protests and boycotts. The widespread discontent contributed to a growing sense of American identity separate from Britain and sparked debates over the rights of the colonists, ultimately leading toward the Revolutionary War.

In contrast, the Boston Tea Party, while a significant act of resistance, occurred later in 1773 as a response to the Tea Act, which aimed to help the British East India Company. The Intolerable Acts were a series of punitive laws passed after the Boston Tea Party, further inflaming tensions. The Second Continental Congress was a gathering of colonial leaders that took place after these events and focused on managing the colonial war