* Colonial Protests and Boycotts: The Act sparked intense outrage. Colonists argued it was taxation without representation, violating their rights as Englishmen. They organized boycotts of British goods, significantly impacting British merchants and the economy. Groups like the Sons of Liberty formed to actively oppose the Act.
* The Stamp Act Congress: Colonists from nine colonies met in the Stamp Act Congress to coordinate their resistance and petition the British government for repeal. This marked a significant step towards colonial unity against British policy.
* Increased Colonial Unity: The shared struggle against the Stamp Act fostered a sense of colonial identity and unity, previously lacking. Colonists from different regions began to see themselves as sharing common grievances against British rule.
* Growth of Revolutionary Sentiment: The resistance to the Stamp Act fueled the growing sentiment for independence. The experience of organized protest and the perceived injustice of the Act radicalized many colonists and moved them closer to a revolutionary stance.
* Repeal of the Stamp Act: Due to the significant economic pressure from the boycotts and the growing unrest, the British government repealed the Stamp Act in 1766. However, this did not resolve the underlying tensions, as the British government continued to assert its right to tax the colonies, leading to further conflict. The Declaratory Act, passed alongside the repeal, reaffirmed Parliament's authority to legislate for the colonies in all cases. This only served to further inflame tensions and move the colonies closer to revolution.