What was the name of the 1765 law established by Parliament that imposed the first direct taxation on goods and services in the American colonies?

The law established by Parliament in 1765 that imposed the first direct taxation on goods and services in the American colonies was known as the Stamp Act. This legislation required colonists to purchase special stamped paper for various documents, such as newspapers, contracts, and licenses, effectively creating a direct tax that affected a wide range of everyday transactions.

The Stamp Act was significant as it marked a turning point in the relationship between Britain and the American colonies, leading to widespread protests and pushing colonists towards a unified stance against what they viewed as unjust taxation without representation. The widespread unrest contributed to the eventual rallying cry for independence from British rule.

While other options refer to different acts that also targeted colonial commerce and governance, none were direct taxes in the same way as the Stamp Act. The Tea Act, for example, while controversial and leading to protests, specifically dealt with the sale of tea and not a broad direct tax. The Quartering Act involved the housing of British troops in the colonies, and the Townshend Acts imposed duties on imported goods but did not represent the first direct tax levied internally by the British government on the colonies.