The concept of no taxation without representation has to deal with the unfair taxing of the early colonists from Parliament in England. The colonists believed the taxing was unfair mainly because the people who were taxing them were an ocean away, hence the “without representation” aspect. These taxes varied on a number of things, from paper to tea. But how strong was this effect on the developing events of America? The demand for no taxation without representation was the key source of motivation for the revolution, and a symbol for democracy.

In Document G (76), Thomas Paine writes: “In no instance hath nature made the satellite larger than its primary planet; and as England and America, with respect to each other, reverse the common order of nature, it is evident that they belong to different systems.” Paine is basically arguing the practicality of England having full control over the entire United States. He is expressing how it doesn’t make sense that such a huge country is being governed by a small island an ocean away. This theory, along with the taxes that the English will enforce, will eventually fire up colonists and have a big effect on the reasoning for a revolution. Resolutions of the Stamp Act: Section V. That the only representatives of the people of these colonies, are persons chosen therein by themselves, and that no taxes ever have been, or can be constitutionally imposed on them, but by their respective legislatures (Document B, 74). The Stamp Act was a big incident that gave many colonists inspiration for revolution. This Document is enforcing the rules that the colonists are laying down. By attempting to end the tax on stamps, the colonists are setting a precedent for future taxes on any materials. This unified aggression towards revolution really set the tone for democracy because after breaking off from England, the colonists would need a way to run things. This idea of fairness and equality that came from the rebellion against the British carried over into the development of the leadership of the new country.

By unfairly taxing colonists from an ocean away, the British only gave colonists even more of a reason to unify and start a revolution. The taxation without representation was somewhat a last straw kind of aspect that set the colonists off. When the people of America all directed their attention to the unfair taxing, they unknowingly united as a country. This unification would help them win the war, and eventually create their new government, which evidently was based on this unification.

The British exerted many forces upon its colonies, some quite tyrannical. In efforts to control the colonies out of the foreseeing that they will inevitably become too far out of control for the British government to handle and tamp down, many injustices were committed against the growing identity of the Americans‚ Among these injustices included anything from requiring a revenue stamp to be placed on all documents to shutting down trade until all the damaged tea was repaid from the protest of the Boston Tea Party. The colonists absolutely hated the restrictions being made upon them from this far off island that was England. The policy that really got underneath peoples' skin was the enforcement of taxes upon America without any consent from the local representatives of the colonies. The peoples' demand for no taxation without representation was an integral part of motivating both the American Revolution and the push for democracy. Not only were the people of the colonies given rights simply as human beings, but also due to these rights it is their prerogative to govern themselves. These natural rights were being infringed upon through the imposed taxation which only added to all the other reasons for revolting.

Firstly, every man born into this world was thought, by the Americans, to have natural born rights as a human being. As Thomas Jefferson stated in Document E page 75, ‚Äúour ancestors, before their emigration to America, were the free inhabitants of the British dominions in Europe, and possessed a right, which nature has given to all men‚Äù of leaving their home nation to one of their choice. This is to state that not only are men free to roam this world, but in the spirit of democracy England cannot and should not seek to control those who wish to leave the island for another continent. Should some leave, nature has never ‚made the satellite larger than its primary planet...England to Europe: America to itself‚ (Document G 76). Thomas Paine means that America has the right to govern itself because not only are the people free as humans, but it is asinine to believe that England has a right to govern a whole continent that is one unto itself, with major differences altogether from British society. Democracy and self-governance without British intervention stems from the widely held view that as people of this world, it is a right unto oneself to be separate from the British if one so chooses. This suppressing of democracy only added to motivations for revolution.

Secondly, the British implementation of taxation without colonial representation pushed the Americans over the edge and into revolution. In the colonies it was believed that ‚Äúthe only representatives of the people...are persons chosen therein by themselves, and that no taxes ever have been...constitutionally imposed on them, but by their respective legislatures‚(Document B 74). The British, according to the colonies, had absolutely no right to blatantly and regally impose taxes upon the colonists without any agreement or challenge. This final straw of taxation was the utmost illegal of acts, one that certainly was not democratic but an attempt to control the colonies through the old ways of absolutism and monarchy. Democratically thinking, taxes could only be implemented through the approval of the people because they affect all people. The British taxation policies ‚could not be supported by reason and argument...[therefore only] for the enforcement of obedience to acts which, upon fair examination, appeared to be unjust and unconstitutional‚ (Document D 75). It is not right to blindly impose taxes on a public without their consent as it is not right to demean their self-governance. Taxing without proper protocol is not democracy of any form and should be protested as a natural human right to buck the forces that are being unjust. This blatant infringement upon the colonists' rights and the lack of acknowledgement of this by the British government only added to the revolutionary cause.

The American Revolution and ideals of democracy were greatly driven by the imposed taxation without representation. Not only were the lack of acknowledged human rights frustrating to the Americans, but also the nerve of the British government to put into place something that affects everyone without anyone's consent. These two factors contributed to the mounting reasons against England for why it was justifiable for the Americans to revolt and change their governance for the better.

Works Cited Newman, John. U.S. History: AP.Amsco N.Y. 2006

It is clear that history shows the American Revolution was instigated by unfair taxation without representation and justly moved us towards our democracy. With the British needing vast amounts of money to support their military wars, it became necessary to find revenue. The American colonies seemed to have available resources, however to collect taxes from these resources it was necessary to impart the will of the British government on the colonies with out their consent. The revolutionary movement seemed necessary to the American colonists because they felt a need to be justly represented when taxes were levied and laws passed.

This theme showed up in political writings and speeches as well as the records of the colonial governing bodies. In 1764 The Virginia House of Burgesses resolved that only themselves and not other powers should impose laws and taxation (Document A 74). The resolutions of the Stamp act Congress cited that taxes from their respective legislatures should be the only body to impose taxes and laws (Document B 74). The second continental Congress July 6th 1775 denounced parliament for taking the colonies’ money and using it to deprive someone from trial by jury and suspending colonial legislatures effecting colonists from legal trials (Document F 75-76). Thomas Jefferson wrote in a summary of rights of British Americans 1774, a reminder to his majesty that our ancestors in Europe were free inhabitants allowed to create new societies that 2 # 720 produced their laws in a manner likely to promote happiness (Document E 75). Clearly the common theme of self-government and freedom was all throughout the colonies.

The consistent theme and passion for self-determination pressed us to a point of no return, the colonies needed freedom and self-government because they believed it was within their rights. The risk of the Revolutionary War didn’t out-weigh the desire for these freedoms. With the creation of our new government we now have representation in our laws and taxation however we needed to keep that message consistent in 1780, seven free Negroes filed a petition to ensure that if they were to be taxed, they deserved the right to vote (Document H 76). Because of all these events we have evolved into the American democracy.