The Stamp Act was a direct tax that united the colonists against the British government. The Stamp Tax was passed in 1765. Legal papers would have to be written on paper that already had a watermarked stamp. The cost of the stamp [the tax] depended on the type of printed material it on which it would be placed. Newspapers, playing cards, and documents like a will or a business contract were all taxed. The amount of taxes each person would have to pay was small, but so many things were taxed that most people would eventually have to pay it.
Hope this helps!