Great Britain and its American colonies expressed divergent views about taxation and representation and held strong beliefs concerning both issues. Each side had a strong basis of support for its argument that not only raised concerns and emotions among the proponents but also led to long-lasting changes and entirely new views about the colonists and their colonial power. This essay seeks to give an in-depth explanation of the British view of taxation and representation in the first part and the colonists’ views and beliefs about the same issues in the second part.
Britain’s Claim of Parliamentary Supremacy
The British firmly believed in taxing their colonies with or without their consent, and they further belittled the grievances of their American subjects about representation in Parliament. Both readings present a colonial power that strongly believed in a master-servant kind of bond between Great Britain and America, its subject. They argue that Britain must wield full authority over its subjects through the use of legislation enacted by the supreme Parliament and have the power to make decisions and changes to colonial rules without contradiction.
Virtual Representation Under the Declaratory Act
The British Parliament’s Declaratory Act argued that Parliament reserved the “full authority to make laws and statutes of sufficient force and validity to bind to the colonies and the people of America together.” No representation of the Americans was considered necessary in the supreme Parliament (Declaratory Act). Soame Jenyns’s 1765 reading argues, “why does not this imaginary representation extend to America as well as over the whole island of Great Britain” because all laws made in Parliament were considered just, and no government acting in its right conscience would come up with unjust laws; hence, there was no need for representation of the Americans in Parliament.
Taxation Without Colonial Consent
This government had the right to collect taxes from its subjects with or without their consent. Soame Jenyns, in his 1765 reading, terms the arguments of those against forced taxation as insolent and absurd and instead presents an interesting view that ” no man that no man that I know of is taxed by his consent and an Englishman, I believe is a little likely to be so taxed as any man in the world.” This clearly portrays the position of the British, who believed that demands by Americans not to be taxed without their consent were unwarranted. It was clear that even some British cities, such as Manchester and Birmingham, which did not send a single member to Parliament for representation, were also taxed, which, in the British view, clearly proved the demand for representation insolent. To sum this up, Great Britain believed that the liberty of the Americans did not come through exemption from taxes or demands for representation but rather through strict conformity to parliamentary laws, which the colonists regarded as a form of slavery. This shows the relationship between Great Britain and its subjects and the enormous power and authority it wielded over them.
Colonial Claims to Equal Rights
The American side also had its viewpoint on the rights and freedoms to which the colonists were entitled in relation to their colonial rulers. The two readings convey that Americans believed they were entitled to equal and fair treatment with their counterparts in Britain, as enshrined in the British Constitution. The reading of the resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress of 1765 argues that “…subjects in these colonies are entitled to all the inherent rights and liberties of his natural born subjects within the kingdom of Great Britain.” This strongly affirms their conviction about equality among all of them (Stamp Act Congress). Americans were also convinced of the need for representatives of their own in the legislature and for representation in their subordinate legislatures in their various colonies.
Representation as a Basis for Cooperation
The advantages of their representation in enhancing cooperation, unity, and coexistence with their colonial rulers were key, as clarified in James Otis’s 1764 reading, “… equity of an American representation would be the most effectual means of giving both countries a thorough knowledge of each other’s interest as well as of the whole which is inseparable” (Otis). These colonists were thus convinced that having their own voice in the legislature was vital for ensuring the prevalence of justice and effective legislation beneficial to all. They felt they had to vote for their representatives. Americans also resented the heavy imposition of taxes without their consent, which they considered slavery and oppression of the highest order, likening it to taking away one’s property by force. James Otis argues that “imposition of taxes is completely irreconcilable with the rights of colonists…. and a breach of the law of nature, no law whatsoever can make it just.” This makes it clear that the act was regarded not only as a form of oppression but also as slavery of the highest order.
Constitutional Liberty and Trial by Jury
They also stressed the need for strict adherence to the stated laws outlined in the British Constitution, which was binding on all, and condemned the selective application of those laws by Parliament to fulfill its ambitions rather than promote the common good of the people, specifically the colonists. They condemned the despotic rule applied to them, arguing that, constitutionally, every man in the dominion was free and thus entitled to liberty rather than arbitrary decrees. Slavery and the use of unconstitutional laws such as taxation without consent were dehumanizing in all respects and unwarranted. Trial by jury was also considered an inherent and invaluable right of every subject.
The Colonists’ Demand for Full Liberty
These instances show that the American colonists were completely dissatisfied with how Great Britain was running the affairs of the colonies and, specifically, with how it was oppressing them. Their demands were a wake-up call for the British Government to rise to the occasion, grant them full liberty, and stop further infringement of their rights in a bid to promote universal brotherhood.
Work Cited
The Declaratory Act; March 18, 1766- Great Britain: Parliament
https://oll.libertyfund.org/pages/1763-otis-rights-of-british-colonies-asserted-pamphlet
Soame Jenyns, 1776- The Objection to the Taxation of our American Colonies by the Legislature of Great Britain, briefly considered.
https://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1751-1775/the-resolutions-of-the-stamp-act-congress-
The Resolution of the Stamp Act Congress October 19, 1765
https://www.samueljohnson.com/tnt.html
James Otis, 1764- The Rights Of The British Colonies Asserted and Proved.
https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/declaratory_act_1766.asp
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