Ap us history dbq PDF

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DBQ prompt in preparation of the AP test....

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DBQ: Taxation without Representation The demand for no taxation without representation was both a primary force motivating the American revolutionary movement and a symbol for democracy. “Taxation without Representation” became a chant representing the people’s desire to explore their natural rights and have freedoms that a monarchy would not grant. England was not giving a say to the colonists in important political and economic affairs. This made the colonists see a flaw in the monarchy of England and they wished to create a new form of government which led to the idea of democracy. Democracy was a symbol of the unification of a whole body of people’s beliefs and thoughts. The unreasonable taxation angered many colonists which led them to lose their loyalty to England, and create patriotism towards the colonies as a different system. Many political leaders started to challenge England’s authority after they realized they were not represented enough in the government that they are controlled by. Their purpose was to shows England and colonists that something must be done about this issue before it creates chaos. Political assemblies such as the Stamp Act Congress, the Second Continental Congress, and the Virginia Burgess along with single political leaders started to oppose the English Parliament and lead the fight to America’s freedom. “Taxation without Representation” was heard all around the colonies as the colonists voiced their opinions against their current government and how it could be improved. Their resentment towards the English started to flourish. First it started with a simple desire, the desire to be represented in the Parliament of England. In the “Resolution of the Virginia Burgess, 1764” the writers speak of the people and how they have the authority to choose who will represent and rule them. It states in the document, “…if Laws respecting the internal Government, and Taxation of themselves, are

imposed upon them by any other Power than that derived from their own Consent, by and with the Approbation of their Sovereign, or his Substitute.” In other words, the laws made on such issues such as taxation must go through the representative chosen by the people. The purpose of this article is to point out to the king and the Parliament that by not letting the colonies be represented in Parliament they are defying the colonists’ natural rights. As time progressed the simple desire changed from wanting representation to breaking away from England. However, this was a gradual process. The colonists started to point out flaws in the current government which is one step closer to the American Revolution because they wanted to reform the faults in their current government. In the “Resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress, 1765” it written in section 4, “That the people of these colonies are not, and from their local circumstances cannot be, represented in the House of Commons in Great-Britain.” This document is trying to showcase the holes of the British government, it is built on a foundation where the colonists will never receive their rightful representation. Many factors kept the colonies away from connecting to England such the fact that they are situated on the other hemisphere of the world, which caused a multitude of communication problems....