Final answer:
Colonists reacted to the Stamp Act by forming the Stamp Act Congress, engaging in popular protests, and cultivating African American support, all highlighting their unified stance against no taxation without representation and the lack of direct representation in Parliament.
Step-by-step explanation:
The colonists had several reactions to the imposition of the Stamp Act of 1765. One significant reaction was the convening of the Stamp Act Congress, which brought together representatives from nine colonies to articulate a unified opposition to the Act. They issued the Declaration of Rights and Grievances, which contested the constitutionality of taxation without representation and the absence of juries in trials.
Another reaction was widespread popular protest, which manifested in various forms, from public demonstrations to the non-importation of British goods, effectively employing economic pressure against British merchants. Additionally, symbolic protests such as mock stamps demonstrated the colonists' dissent against what they viewed as arbitrary taxation.
Lastly, African Americans, both enslaved and free, joined the cause, recognizing the Stamp Act as an opportunity to challenge the British colonial rule. Their participation highlighted the inclusive dimension of the resistance to British taxation policies.