Hello and welcome to a history of the United States. Episode 132, Repeal of the Stamp Act.

In our last episode, we looked at how resistance to the Stamp Act stiffened in late 1765 across America,

while introducing John and Abigail Adams into the narrative. We then turned back to London to look at the British

response. It was coordinated by Cumberland, who wanted a highly aggressive policy, but then

he suddenly died on October 31st and threw the British Ministry into chaos. The fundamental problem with the Rockingham Ministry was a lack of seniority and experience.

It was a collection of minor politicians held together by the 35-year-old Rockingham,

an incredibly wealthy landlord from Yorkshire with a gift for forming alliances with figures more able than himself.

He already attracted Edmund Burke to be his private secretary.

The thinking was that Rockingham could be the next Newcastle and guide the wigs for the next generation.

However, the plan had several problems. Rockingham was lazy, lacking initiative. He didn't have the confidence in his own

political judgments and was fearful of public speaking. He much preferred to reside at his estate than in Westminster.

Everybody, Roggingham included, thought he made a terrible prime minister. The ministry was made

of lesser politicians, more used to opposition, and found themselves unable to get out of this mindset.

The two secretaries of state, Grafton and Conway, wanted to make Pitt prime minister,

but Pitt wanted to be called by the king and have the authority to lead a government on his own terms.

With Pitt refusing to lead Rockingham's ministry, the situation stuttered on

into December, while reports from America got worse and worse. Rockingham, in the most Rockingham

manner possible, spoke with no experts on the colonies, but instead the wealthy London merchants, who convinced

him that the principal issue was economic. This was followed by the political question,

and finally by the institutional question. The Stamp Act obviously wasn't working. It was bringing trade and British industry to a halt,

while Parliament felt humiliated they couldn't control the colonies. After communicating with Gage,

Rockingham managed to understand in a way that Cumberland had not, that any attempt to enforce the

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