The Stamp Act: The Newspaper Publisher William Bradford

The newspaper publisher William Bradford does not like the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act was a law passed in 1765 that made colonists pay a tax on paper, newspaper, legal documents, and many more items. William Bradford tells his readers that he will not publish his paper until, “...any methods can be found to elude the chains forged for us, and escape the insupportable slavery.” Bradford is telling his readers that the Stamp Act is a burden (chains), and is comparable to slavery. Another example of his anger about the Stamp Act is the decor of his newspaper. It is shaped like a gravestone, and has several skulls and crossbones. This is a sign that the publisher is unhappy about something. We can infer that his newspaper is shaped that way because