Tension between Britain and the colonists continued to grow. In 1765, The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act. This act required colonists to buy and place stamps on items such as wills and playing cards. It was the first tax that affected the colonists directly because it was placed on the everyday goods they bought. Previous taxes had been placed only on goods coming into the country. The new tax angered the colonists. A secret group called the Sons of Liberty played an active role in the boycott. The group was led by political activist Samuel Adams.
The colonist declared that Parliament could not tax them because they were not represented in Parliament. The colonists argued that only colonial lawmaking bodies had the right to tax them.
In March of 1766, Parliament repealed (took back) the Stamp Act. however, a year later, Parliament passed the Townsend Act. These laws placed taxes on even more imports and on tea. Colonists in Boston protested the new taxes with boycotts and riots. The British sent more troops to America to prevent further riots.

Why did the colonists feel that Parliament had no right to tax them?