During the Stamp Act Crisis in 1765, the House of Burgesses played a critical role in opposing the British government’s attempt to enforce the provisions of the Stamp Act.

Patrick Henry introduced a series of resolutions known as the Virginia Stamp Act Resolves, which argued that only the General Assembly had the authority to levy taxes on Virginia colonists. Henry also argued that any attempts by the British government to tax Virginians without their consent were an attack on their rights. Although the resolutions were controversial, most of them were passed by the House of Burgesses and published in newspapers throughout the American Colonies. The House of Burgesses continued to play an important role in the American Revolution. Following the passage of the Intolerable Acts, the Burgesses passed a resolution for a Day of Feasting and Prayer in support of the city of Boston.