"Inflation is taxation without representation." ― Milton Friedman

History of 'No Taxation Without Representation'

Period of Protests It started around 1750s or 1760s, and continued further to give rise to the American Revolution. The American colonies were under the rule of the British before the revolution. Most of the rules that were enacted, were oppressive and against the interests of the colonists. Though the American colonies were a rich source of trade for the British, the tax burdens on the colonists were not taken well by them. The catalyst for the strained relationship between the British and the colonies was the Stamp Act of 1765. According to the colonists, they had an equal right to represent themselves when such laws were passed overseas at the British Parliament. Moreover, the anger in the minds of the colonists provided an impetus for the fight for freedom against the British rule. The British had incurred huge losses at the Indian and French wars, and had to recover the losses. To add to it, there was a growing menace of smuggling of tea to the American colonies. The Parliament came up with an idea that could exploit its colonies, and passed laws that taxed the colonists. This unfair treatment triggered anger in the hearts of the colonists and they decided to rebel. Famous Colonists Involved James Otis He was a political activist, law practitioner, and a patriot who was pivotal during the protests against the taxation policies. He had coined the phrase Taxation without representation is tyranny. Patrick Henry From the colony of Virginia, he is said to have been one of the key members to oppose the Stamp Act of 1765. He is famous for the speech Give me liberty, or give me death!. Samuel Adams He was one of the most influential patriots from Boston, a delegate at the first meeting of Congress, and one of the pivotal people involved in the Boston Tea Party.

Impact of 'No Taxation without Representation'

Boston Tea Party The Boston Tea Party is said to be a direct result of the unfair taxation by the British empire. The British had a very remunerative business due to tea, which was being imported to the American colonies. Tea was a very popular beverage in the American colonies and the British were earning a good revenue out of it, due to their monopoly in the market. Realizing this, they decided to pass the tax burden to the American colonies. The Tea Act that was passed in May 1773, again sparked anger in the minds of the American colonies, with many consignees at New York, Philadelphia, and Charleston refusing to accept the tea consignments. On the night of December 16, 1773, Samuel Adams and a group called 'Sons of Liberty', emptied 342 chests of tea in the Boston Harbor. This act went about for around three hours. The British incurred huge losses and in retaliation, they charged huge punitive actions against the American colonists, which sparked the American revolution that started around 1775 in Massachusetts. Stamp Act Congress With the unjust Stamp Act, there were widespread protests. However, James Otis convinced that a common body representing the different colonies would be needed to address the British Parliament. During October 1765, a meeting of the delegates of the colonies was held in New York. All the colonies except North Carolina, Georgia, New Hampshire, and Virginia attended the meeting. However, New Hampshire admitted its acceptance to the resolutions passed at the Congress meeting. The main agenda was to discuss the oppressive taxation policies of the British Parliament without having any consultation or suggestion from the colonies. This was the first step towards achieving freedom from the British.