The central event that led to the start of the American Revolution was the imposition of the Stamp Act in 1765. This act mandated that many printed materials in the colonists' daily lives, such as newspapers and legal documents, needed to carry a tax stamp. The colonists vehemently opposed the law, arguing that it was taxation without representation, as they had no representatives in Parliament. This resentment led to widespread protests and the formation of groups such as the Sons of Liberty. Over time, these tensions escalated into a broader conflict regarding colonial rights and governance, eventually sparking the American Revolution.