Final answer:
The Stamp Act imposed by Parliament in 1765 required all legal and commercial papers in the colonies to have a stamp showing the tax had been paid.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of the Stamp Act, imposed by Parliament on the colonists in 1765, was to require all legal and commercial papers to have a stamp showing that the tax had been paid. This act aimed to raise revenue for Britain and assert its authority over the colonies. The stamp required to be placed on the documents was typically made of embossed paper and had to be purchased from government officials.
Learn more about Stamp Act and its purpose