Colonial relationships between the British Colonial government and the American colonists bred conflicts in the 1700s (Alden & Middlekauff, 1962). The phrase, “No taxation without representation” embodies one of these conflicts. This slogan voices the American colonists’ grievances where the complained of being taxed yet they were not represented. This essay will discuss the root of the phrase and what it meant to the colonists.
The slogan stems from the British government’s favoritism towards virtual representation of the Americans (Wahrman, 1992). This law especially applied to far away colonies. Virtual representation barred the colonists from being directly involved in law-making. It also denied them the opportunity to have a say over laws that affected them. To that extent, the “No taxation without representation” slogan meant that laws passed in the absence of the colonists could not be implemented.
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The colonialists’ indifference towards virtual representation stemmed from various reasons. To begin with, the implementation of laws without the consent of member colonies was a violation of the Bill of Rights (Alden & Middlekauff, 1962). Secondly, the colonists wanted to be directly involved in making laws. This could best be done if they were directly represented in the British parliament. Thirdly, the slogan paved the way for the colonists to evade laws that affected them. Such laws included the Stamp Act and Tea Act.
To summarize, the slogan enabled the colonists to seek justice. The phrase championed their direct involvement in law-making. It was a direct complaint of some of the laws made in the distant British Parliament, which affected the colonists. It also enabled them to avoid paying certain taxes. Ultimately, the slogan marked the beginning of the fight for America’s independence.
References
Alden, J. R., & Middlekauff, R. (1962). The American Revolution, 1763-1783 . Harper & Row .
Wahrman, D. (1992). Virtual representation: parliamentary reporting and languages of class in the 1790s. Past & Present , (136), 83-113.
