How did internal tax and external tax explain the colonial rallying cry of no taxations without representation?

Answer 1

We first need definitions, particularly for internal and external tax. Internal tax. A tax imposed that is not related to imports or exports. Examples are a poll tax (a per-person amount), a sales tax (a percentage of the value sold), and an excise tax (an amount based on an event, such as issuance of a license or permit, or the sale of an item independent of the value of the item). A common way in Britain of collecting an excise tax was through the use of stamped paper for legal documents (including licenses and permits), bills of lading, pamphlets and newspapers. Duty. A fee paid to the government placed on items of import or export,. A duty on an item was generally used to discourage its use, as a regulation of trade (and not to raise revenue). External tax. A duty for the purpose of raising revenue. Since the early years of colonial America, the British had used duties to regulate trade. The Americans largely accepted such duties. In 1764 and 1765 the British Parliament imposed duties for the purpose of raising revenue, and then an internal tax in the form of an excise tax collected through the use of stamped paper. The Americans objected that the internal tax was unconstitutional. The British constitution-and the natural rights of mankind- limited the right of taxation to the representatives of those taxed. Since the Americans were not represented in Parliament, they could not tax the Americans. Hence the cry of "no taxation without representation." The Americans resisted, first with protestations and trade embargoes, later with increasing violence. The British repealed the internal tax, believing that the Americans would accept external taxes. The Americans also resisted the external taxes. The British chose to enforce the taxation with military force, ultimately leading the Americans to more aggressively resist, and then declare independence in 1776.