Taxation and Representation
HIST 2111
Taxation and Representation
March 4, 2015
If you struggle with wanting more rights, or you do not believe you are a “free man”, you ought to look up the rights you would have had before the end of the Revolutionary War. You may find yourself thanking God for the rights and liberties you do have now as well as finding a new appreciation for the men who fought for those liberties. In the article, Samuel Adams, The Rights of the Colonists, we are informed that the colonist’s believed their rights were Life, Liberty and Property. These were their rights, only they were not able to exercise these rights freely. It was hard for them to live the day to day life under the power of Parliament and I understand why they wanted out. The colonists were on one side of the Atlantic while the group of people dictating everything the colonists did was on the other side. Is that not insane?
The colonists wanted freedom, but I think, even more, they wanted actual representation. If taxes were to be raised and laws were to be made, it was simply not practical for their representatives to have to cross the ocean to take care of matters. One declaration made by John Dickenson in The Resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress October 19, 1765, was that “the increase, prosperity, and happiness of these colonies, depend on the full and free enjoyment of their rights and liberties, and an intercourse with Great-Britain mutually affectionate and advantageous.” To me he is saying, “We need to exercise our rights and take care of our own business over here in America. But, let’s stay friends.” I think the colonists viewed this relationship as controlling and a hindrance but knew keeping them as an ally was important. The British did not have the same views as the colonists had. They believed that America should have stayed dependent upon Great Britain. The British believed that America should have stayed under the laws of Parliament. In Great Britain : Parliament - The
Taxation and Representation
March 4, 2015
If you struggle with wanting more rights, or you do not believe you are a “free man”, you ought to look up the rights you would have had before the end of the Revolutionary War. You may find yourself thanking God for the rights and liberties you do have now as well as finding a new appreciation for the men who fought for those liberties. In the article, Samuel Adams, The Rights of the Colonists, we are informed that the colonist’s believed their rights were Life, Liberty and Property. These were their rights, only they were not able to exercise these rights freely. It was hard for them to live the day to day life under the power of Parliament and I understand why they wanted out. The colonists were on one side of the Atlantic while the group of people dictating everything the colonists did was on the other side. Is that not insane?
The colonists wanted freedom, but I think, even more, they wanted actual representation. If taxes were to be raised and laws were to be made, it was simply not practical for their representatives to have to cross the ocean to take care of matters. One declaration made by John Dickenson in The Resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress October 19, 1765, was that “the increase, prosperity, and happiness of these colonies, depend on the full and free enjoyment of their rights and liberties, and an intercourse with Great-Britain mutually affectionate and advantageous.” To me he is saying, “We need to exercise our rights and take care of our own business over here in America. But, let’s stay friends.” I think the colonists viewed this relationship as controlling and a hindrance but knew keeping them as an ally was important. The British did not have the same views as the colonists had. They believed that America should have stayed dependent upon Great Britain. The British believed that America should have stayed under the laws of Parliament. In Great Britain : Parliament - The