British Politics and the Stamp Act Crisis: The First Phase of the American Revolution

by Peter D.G. Thomas

A study of British politics and political attitudes towards the American colonies in the early years of the revolutionary period, this book falls into three parts: the formulation of policy by the Grenville ministry; the debate over the colonial resistance and the policy adapted to solve the crisis by the first Rockingham ministry; and the aftermath of the crisis during the first year of the Chatham ministry. The whole contemporary political machinery is seen in action, as King, cabinet, civil service, Lords, Commons, public opinion, colonial agents, and commercial and industrial interests all play a part in the discussion and evolution of policy.

402 pages, Hardcover

First published January 16, 1975

About the author

Peter David Garner Thomas was a Welsh historian specialising in 18th-century British and American politics. Thomas was educated at the University College of North Wales and University College London. After working as a lecturer from Glasgow University in 1965, Thomas joined the faculty at Aberystwyth University, where he worked until his retirement as emeritus professor in 1997.