Changes

==British perspectives==

==British perspectives==

Many British leaders agreed with the Americans, but King [[George III]] (reigned 1760-1820) and his government took a hard-line position. The British could not accept Virginia's position because it would undermine the authority of Parliament, which it insisted in the "Declaratory Act" was always the final decision-making body. In Britain representation was highly limited; only 3% of the men could vote and they were controlled by local gentry.<ref>Miller p 212</ref>  Therefore the British government argued that the colonists had [[virtual representation]] in their interests.  In English history "no taxation without representation" was an old principle and meant that Parliament had to pass all taxes.  At first the "representation" was held to be one of land, but by 1700 this had shifted to the notion that in Parliament all British subjects had a "virtual representation."  "We virtually and implicitly allow the institutions of any government of which we enjoy the benefit and solicit the protection," declared [[Samuel Johnson]] in his political pamphlet ''Taxation No Tyranny.'' He rejected the plea that the colonists, who had no vote, were unrepresented. "They are represented," he said, "by the same virtual representation as the greater part of England."<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=M24FAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=intitle:taxation+inauthor:samuel+inauthor:johnson&num=30&as_brr=3#PPA4,M1 See]</ref>  

Many British leaders agreed with the Americans, but King [[George III]] (reigned 1760-1820) and his government took a hard-line position. The British could not accept Virginia's position because it would undermine the authority of Parliament, which it insisted in the "Declaratory Act" was always the final decision-making body. In Britain representation was highly limited; only 3% of the men could vote and they were controlled by local gentry.<ref>Miller p 212</ref>  Therefore, the British government argued that the colonists had [[virtual representation]] in their interests.  In English history "no taxation without representation" was an old principle and meant that Parliament had to pass all taxes.  At first the "representation" was held to be one of land, but by 1700 this had shifted to the notion that in Parliament all British subjects had a "virtual representation."  "We virtually and implicitly allow the institutions of any government of which we enjoy the benefit and solicit the protection," declared [[Samuel Johnson]] in his political pamphlet ''Taxation No Tyranny.'' He rejected the plea that the colonists, who had no vote, were unrepresented. "They are represented," he said, "by the same virtual representation as the greater part of England."<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=M24FAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=intitle:taxation+inauthor:samuel+inauthor:johnson&num=30&as_brr=3#PPA4,M1 See]</ref>  

The theory of virtual representation was attacked in Britain by Charles Pratt, the Earl of Camden, and especially by William Pitt. It was wholly rejected in the colonies, who said the "virtual" was a cover for political corruption and was irreconcilable with their [[Republicanism, U.S.|republican]] belief that government derives its just powers from the [[consent of the governed]]. Colonists said no man was represented if he were not allowed to vote. Moreover, even "If every inhabitant of America had the requisite freehold," said [[Daniel Dulany]], "not one could vote, but upon the supposition of his ceasing to become an inhabitant of America, and becoming a resident of Great Britain." The colonists insisted that representation was achieved only through an assembly of men actually elected by the persons they were intended to represent.

The theory of virtual representation was attacked in Britain by Charles Pratt, the Earl of Camden, and especially by William Pitt. It was wholly rejected in the colonies, who said the "virtual" was a cover for political corruption and was irreconcilable with their [[Republicanism, U.S.|republican]] belief that government derives its just powers from the [[consent of the governed]]. Colonists said no man was represented if he were not allowed to vote. Moreover, even "If every inhabitant of America had the requisite freehold," said [[Daniel Dulany]], "not one could vote, but upon the supposition of his ceasing to become an inhabitant of America, and becoming a resident of Great Britain." The colonists insisted that representation was achieved only through an assembly of men actually elected by the persons they were intended to represent.

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Early National U.S.]]

[[Category:Early National U.S.]]

[[Category:Conservatism]]

[[Category:Conservatism]]

[[Category:Libertarianism]]

[[Category:Libertarianism]]

[[Category:Patriots]]

[[Category:Patriots]]