The Colonists Objection to the New Taxes in 1764-65
Why did the colonists object to the new taxes in 1764 and again in 1765? What arguments did they use?
In 1764 Britain tried to implement the “Sugar Act” which raised new taxes on all products that were imported like sugar, wine, coffee, indigo and foreign textiles (Henretta and Brody 137). This caused chaos in the new colonies because it was the first attempt from parliament to raise a sort of revenue
The Stamp Act of 1765 was Parliaments way of raising colonial tax revenues once again to help pay the cost of the French and Indian War. (Henretta and Brody 140).
The Colonist resisted the additional taxes and started debates in the colonial legislature, writing articles and protesting in the streets. (Henretta and Brody 137). They felt that they should not be taxed without proper representation in Parliament "No taxation without representation." Many of the colonists were already being taxed under the Magna Carta, The English Bill of Rights of 1688 and paying regularly taxes that were levied by the colonial legislatures. The colonists wanted the same rights as their mother country and wanted any tax imposed, done so by whom they elected. Taxation was a primary function of the self-government to which the colonists so passionately adhered. The Stamp Act refuted the claim to a measure of self-government, painting the colonies not as an entity in a loosely bound federation centered in London, but rather as an extension of the British nation, subject to Parliamentary legislation and taxation. (Henretta and Brody 140).
Henretta, James A. and David Brody. America: A Concise History, Volume I: To 1877. 4th ed., Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010.
In 1764 Britain tried to implement the “Sugar Act” which raised new taxes on all products that were imported like sugar, wine, coffee, indigo and foreign textiles (Henretta and Brody 137). This caused chaos in the new colonies because it was the first attempt from parliament to raise a sort of revenue
The Stamp Act of 1765 was Parliaments way of raising colonial tax revenues once again to help pay the cost of the French and Indian War. (Henretta and Brody 140).
The Colonist resisted the additional taxes and started debates in the colonial legislature, writing articles and protesting in the streets. (Henretta and Brody 137). They felt that they should not be taxed without proper representation in Parliament "No taxation without representation." Many of the colonists were already being taxed under the Magna Carta, The English Bill of Rights of 1688 and paying regularly taxes that were levied by the colonial legislatures. The colonists wanted the same rights as their mother country and wanted any tax imposed, done so by whom they elected. Taxation was a primary function of the self-government to which the colonists so passionately adhered. The Stamp Act refuted the claim to a measure of self-government, painting the colonies not as an entity in a loosely bound federation centered in London, but rather as an extension of the British nation, subject to Parliamentary legislation and taxation. (Henretta and Brody 140).
Henretta, James A. and David Brody. America: A Concise History, Volume I: To 1877. 4th ed., Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010.