The Stamp Act Crisis: Prologue to Revolution
by Edmund S. Morgan, Helen M. Morgan
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Description
'Impressive . . . The authors have given us a searching account of the crisis and provided some memorable portraits of officials in America impaled on the dilemma of having to enforce a measure which they themselves opposed.'-- New York Times 'A brilliant contribution to the colonial field. Combining great industry, astute scholarship, and a vivid style, the authors have sought 'to recreate two years of American history.' They have succeeded admirably.'-- William and Mary Quarterly 'Required show more reading for anyone interested in those eventful years preceding the American Revolution.'-- Political Science Quarterly The Stamp Act, the first direct tax on the American colonies, provoked an immediate and violent response. The Stamp Act Crisis , originally published by UNC Press in 1953, identifies the issues that caused the confrontation and explores the ways in which the conflict was a prelude to the American Revolution. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
An excellent, and very readable account of the years surrounding the Stamp Act. Offers both American and British perspectives, and profiles of some of the lesser-known characters in the events.
A very detailed account of the events surrounding the Stamp Act. Covers reactions from various colonies, and reaction in England. Quite readable.
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Best U.S. History Books (1754-1828)
363 works; 17 members
Author Information

36+ Works 6,609 Members
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Edmund Morgan spent most of his youth in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was educated at the Belmont Hill School, Harvard, and the London School of Economics. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1942 and three years later began his teaching career at the University of Chicago.From there he moved first to Brown show more University and then to Yale, where he became Sterling Professor in 1965 and emeritus in 1986. Morgan's historical writings greatly enhance our understanding of such complex aspects of the American experience as Puritanism, the Revolution, and the relationship between slavery and racism. At the same time, they captivate readers in the classroom and beyond. His work is a felicitous blend of rigorous scholarship, imaginative analysis, and graceful presentation. Although sometimes characterized as the quintessential Whig historian, in reality Morgan transcends simplistic categorization and has done more, perhaps, than any other historian to open new and creative paths of inquiry into the meaning of the early American experience. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
31+ Works 6,595 Members
2 Works 220 Members
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1953
- People/Characters
- William Pitt the Elder; Francis Bernard (1st Baronet, 1712-1779); George Grenville; Benjamin Franklin; Thomas Hutchinson; James Otis, Jr. (show all 9); Richard Jackson; Daniel Dulany, Jr.; Jared Ingersoll
- Important places
- Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Charleston, South Carolina, USA; Providence, Rhode Island, USA; USA; Massachusetts, USA (show all 9); Pennsylvania, USA; South Carolina, USA; Rhode Island, USA
- Important events
- Stamp Act Crisis
- Dedication
- For E.M.M.
- First words
- The place was something out of a fairy tale, a ghost town in the wilderness, empty houses lining the street on one side, savage plants creeping toward them to recover their domain, and on the other side -- an enchanted castle... (show all), where a gentleman lived with his wife and her young sister.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Having completed his part, John Robinson sailed for England with his bride and drifted out of the stream of history.
Classifications
- Genres
- History, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Politics and Government
- DDC/MDS
- 973.3111 — History & geography History of North America United States Revolution and confederation (1775-89) Political history; causes, results Causes Stamp act 1765
- LCC
- E215.2 .M58 — History of the United States United States The Revolution, 1775-1783
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 221
- Popularity
- 146,858
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (4.05)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 7





























































