What are the effects of no taxation without representation?

Answer 1

In 1689, the English government passed a "Bill of Rights" for its citizens. An important right granted by the Bill is that if you are paying taxes, you should have a say in what happens with those taxes. By the time of the American Revolution, Parliament existed as a way for English citizens to "have a say"- they would vote for someone to go to London and represent them and their interests.

However, people in the American Colonies- who were considered Englishmen just like everyone else- were not able to vote in Parliament's elections. After the French and Indian War (also known as the "Seven Years War" to Europeans), Parliament was forced to raise taxes to pay for the debts incurred during the war, and to fight Indian tribes that occasionally raided the colonies. The Colonists became upset, because they had no right to vote. Additionally, the King and Parliament occasionally passed laws that the Colonists didn't like, such as the King's proclamation of 1763 or the Quebec Act.

Some members of Parliament argued that while it was true that Colonists couldn't vote, they were "virtually represented" by members who shared their views and interests; therefore, it wasn't necessary for the Colonists to actually vote. Not many people, even in Parliament, accepted this reason, however.

So when Parliament passed its tax bills, the Colonists usually protested, boycotted, and revolted against them. Parliament usually quickly rescinded the taxes, but maintained that it still had the right to raise those taxes. An important aspect of English (and American) law is the idea of precedence- that is, if the law works a certain way one time, then it works that same way in the future. So Parliament kept passing taxes, hoping that if the Colonists would accept one of them, then the precedent would be set and then Parliament would be free to continue managing taxes. Unfortunately for them, the Colonists never fell for the "trick" and the Revolution ended it once and for all.