Virtual Representation
Virtual representation is the idea that one person from British Parliament would be able to represent the entire population of the 13 colonies. This led to many debates against how the citizens of the thirteen colonies should be able to decide how the money collected from the taxes should be spent. It all started During the stamp act of 1765 levied a tax on many colonial paper products by requiring them to be printed on stamped paper. The stamped paper then had a revenue stamp which meant the customers buying the products would have to pay extra for them in British currency. The point of the tax was to help pay for the return of British troops since the British had won the seven years war and wanted the colonies to help pay for their return.
The Citizens of the thirteen colonies actually disagreed with this idea because they were not getting a say on how much tax they had to pay and what the British Parliament would spend the money on .The idea of Virtual Representation was actually started by George Grenville who stated that the colonist were being virtually represented this idea was seen as ridiculous to both the British Parliament and the residents of the 13 colonies. The thirteen colonies also stated that under british constitution only the legislature could impose taxes on the colonist. Many people saw this as "no taxation without representation".
Later in 1766 British Parliament passed the declaratory act, which practically gave Parliament the same power they did in Britain but now in the colonies. The colonist were outraged by this since the declaratory act of 1766 was the same as the Irish declaratory act and the result of that declaratory act the Irish crown had kept it's power. The colonist obviously did not want that so they fought for their freedom; furthermore, Parliament had gained the power to pass any law they wanted to with just a majority vote which would mean chaos for the colonist
The Citizens of the thirteen colonies actually disagreed with this idea because they were not getting a say on how much tax they had to pay and what the British Parliament would spend the money on .The idea of Virtual Representation was actually started by George Grenville who stated that the colonist were being virtually represented this idea was seen as ridiculous to both the British Parliament and the residents of the 13 colonies. The thirteen colonies also stated that under british constitution only the legislature could impose taxes on the colonist. Many people saw this as "no taxation without representation".
Later in 1766 British Parliament passed the declaratory act, which practically gave Parliament the same power they did in Britain but now in the colonies. The colonist were outraged by this since the declaratory act of 1766 was the same as the Irish declaratory act and the result of that declaratory act the Irish crown had kept it's power. The colonist obviously did not want that so they fought for their freedom; furthermore, Parliament had gained the power to pass any law they wanted to with just a majority vote which would mean chaos for the colonist
The British Parliament and the king usually did as they pleased even with the proper representation of the thirteen colonies and that is what led for 56 representatives to write the Declaration of Independence.
ReplyDeleteWell this an interesting topic, virtual representation, I wonder if this could happen today here in the United States. However, like you mentioned, if there was someone from Britain representing the colonies they really did not care much towards the colonist. I agree with Paola, no matter the representation the King still did what they pleased.
ReplyDeleteIt kind of does just not as large as the thirteen colonies if you think about our states in the US have more representatives depending on the population
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ReplyDeleteI believe that the citizens did have a right to disagree with the idea because they could not make the decisions, which i believe is wrong because they are the ones being taxed.
ReplyDeleteVirtual representation did not really benefit the colonies as stated above because the representative was not from the colonies and was not concerned with the wants of the colonies.
ReplyDeleteThe colonists were only concerned about their representative after the fact that they had to be paying more in taxes, before that the colonist did not seem to mind.
ReplyDeleteThe British victory in the French and Indian War resulted in high taxation for the colonists, which then lead to the Stamp Act. It is clear that Virtual Representation was negatively affecting the colonists, as previously stated.
ReplyDeleteThis virtual representation wasn't fair because the individual representing the colonies wasn't from the colonies.
ReplyDeleteI find it dumb how a man who was not even part of then colonies represented it
ReplyDeleteVirtual Representation was honestly a "bust". It makes me sad that these settlers genuinely believed they were given a place in the government, but in reality were in the same place.
ReplyDeleteTaxation began because the British had won the Seven Years' War and wanted for the other colonies to return the favor by paying taxes.
ReplyDeleteVirtual representation was a horrible explanation to cover the truth for what Britain was really doing.
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