'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 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. “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 reading for anyone interested in those eventful years preceding the American Revolution.” — Political Science Quarterly Required reading for anyone interested in those eventful years preceding the American Revolution.-- Political Science Quarterly Edmund S. Morgan is Sterling Professor of History Emeritus at Yale University. His many books include American Slavery, American Freedom: The Ordeal of Colonial Virginia and Inventing the People: The Rise of Popular Sovereignty in England and America . The late Helen M. Morgan was Eward S. Morgan’s wife and collaborator.