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Taxation Without Representation Facts & Worksheets

The phrase “Taxation without Representation” was the battle cry of the American patriots against the imposition of taxes by the British Parliament.

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The phrase “Taxation without Representation” was the battle cry of the American patriots against the imposition of taxes by the British Parliament.

See the fact file below for more information on the Taxation without Representation or alternatively, you can download our 21-page Taxation without Representation worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

PRIOR TO PROTEST

  • After the costly Seven Years’ War, which lasted from 1756 until 1763, the British Parliament began to impose direct taxes to the colonists.
  • The British government believed that the American colonists should contribute to raise revenue since the war was also fought for them.
  • The first revenue-driven tax imposed on the colonists was the Stamp Act passed in 1765. This Act required all printed materials used inside the colony to be affixed with embossed stamps. Newspapers, playing cards, documents, and others alike were taxed.
  • It was prime minister George Grenville who proposed the Stamp Act which was passed in the Parliament without further debate.
  • In 1775, Stamp Act opponent Patrick Henry delivered his famous “Give me liberty, or give me death!” speech before the Virginia’s colonial meeting.
  • Amidst the Stamp Act, many colonists accepted the Parliament’s rule to regulate trade in the Thirteen colonies, however, they insisted that a direct representative was necessary before imposition of any direct taxes.

CRY FOR REPRESENTATION

  • Without Parliamentary representation, the colonists believed that the imposition of tax on printed documents was illegal.
  • The Stamp Act Congress was created on October 9, 1765, after the meeting of 27 delegates from nine out of 13 thirteen colonies at New York City’s Federal Hall.
  • For 18 days, a number of delegates met, including William Samuel Johnson of Connecticut, John Dickinson of Connecticut, and John Dickinson of Pennsylvania.
  • They passed resolutions which highlighted that the delegates’ loyalty was not under question, the main issue was taxation without representation.
  • The Stamp Act Congress came up with three petitions addressed to the King, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons – all of which were ignored.
  • When the colonists began to boycott British goods, the act was repealed in March 1766.
  • The Declaration of Rights and Grievances was their first accomplishment as a Congress. It consisted of thirteen resolutions reiterating their rights. In general, they argued that they should not be levied with taxes without their consent in the form of representation in the British Parliament.
  • Even though the Stamp Act was repealed, the British Parliament passed the Declaratory Act reaffirming their power over the colonists. After a year, the Parliament continued to pass other acts such as the Townshend Revenue Act, Tea Act, and the package of five acts also known as the Intolerable Acts.
  • The American colonists wanted actual representation in the British Parliament aside from the colonial assemblies such as the House of Burgesses.
  • Virtual representation was unacceptable for them while imposing internal taxes on the colonies. The Sons of Liberty continued their advocacy until the end of American Revolutionary War.
  • After years of non resolution over taxation, tensions between the colonists and British authority grew. On April 15, 1775, the first shot marking the American Revolution began in Lexington and Concord.
  • In a series of public arguments, James Otis, a lawyer, popularized the phrase “taxation without representation is tyranny”.

Taxation without Representation Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Taxation without Representation across 21 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Taxation without Representation worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the phrase “Taxation without Representation” which was the battle cry of the American patriots against the imposition of taxes by the British Parliament.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Taxation Without Representation Facts
  • The Sons of Liberty
  • Turn of Events
  • Tax Time!
  • Representation 101
  • History Repeats Itself?
  • Take Your Side
  • In Pictures
  • The Stamp Act Congress
  • Letter for Represetation
  • Adams’ Say

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Link will appear as Taxation Without Representation Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 17, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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