Why did James Otis claim parliament had no right to do?

Answer 1

James Otis claimed that Parliament had no right to impose taxes on the American colonies without their consent, famously arguing that "taxation without representation is tyranny." He believed that only colonial assemblies, which represented the interests of the colonists, had the authority to levy taxes. Otis's arguments laid the groundwork for the growing resistance against British rule and emphasized the principle of self-governance. His stance was a pivotal moment in the lead-up to the American Revolution.