Were Taxed Without Representation?

"No taxation without representation" is a political slogan that originated in the American Revolution, and which expressed one of the primary grievances of the American colonists against Great Britain.

What were some examples of taxation without representation?

A modern example of taxation without representation exists in the District of Columbia. When the American founders wrote the Constitution, they decided that the District of Columbia wouldn't have representatives in Congress as a way to ensure the neutrality of the district.

How did colonists respond to taxation without representation?

Colonial assemblies denounced the law, claiming the tax was illegal on the grounds that they had no representation in Parliament. Colonists were likewise furious at being denied the right to a trial by jury.