The Stamp Act Protests, 1774

This political cartoon, published by a British newspaper, shows a tax collector being tarred, feathered, and forced to drink tea by a group of rebellious Bostonians. The Stamp Act, a tax on printed paper, hangs upside down on a tree. The tree also holds a waiting noose. In the background, rebels dump tea (another taxed item) into the harbor. All of this activity demonstrates the Bostonians anger at taxation without representation. Though no stamp commissioner was actually tarred and feathered, this Medieval brutality was a popular form of 18th century mob violence in Great Britain, particularly against tax collectors

Restrictions Only for Ireland and United Kingdom

Bostonians Brutality Collector Colonists Commissioner Effigies Effigy Patriots Rebellious Rebels Tarred Taxation

Features In These Collections

> Contributors > PHR