That talk about representation was actually just pretence.
In praxis no representation could have worked, as the American colonials demanded that the representatives they wanted at the British parliament be allowed to travel home to consult with their voters before voting on any issue.
Considering the distance and the age, it would have gridlocked the entire workings of the British parliament if they had to wait for weeks on end to decide an issue whenever an American colonial representative wanted to travel home to consult his voters.
But using the argument of democratic representation of course sounded better then the actual reason - which was "we don't want to pay more in tax!".
And the "funny" thing is American colonials actually paid far less in tax then British subjects in Britain.
It was common practice for all colonial nations to have lower taxes in the colonies - to encourage immigration and economic development there.
What the British wanted was to raise taxes slightly on their American colonies, to help pay for the cost of the French and Indian War they had just fought with French, protecting those colonies from invasion by the French.
But nope, the Americans where too used to freeloading on the regular British taxpayer to ever accept that - so they invented that pretext of representation to in reality refuse ever paying more in tax.
Which the British obviously couldn't let stand, as then all other colonies would soon demand the same special treatment.
So you ended up going to war over taxes, yes.
That may not be the story you like to tell yourself as a nation - but that's what actually happened.
0
@wsdpii
That talk about representation was actually just pretence.
In praxis no representation could have worked, as the American colonials demanded that the representatives they wanted at the British parliament be allowed to travel home to consult with their voters before voting on any issue.
Considering the distance and the age, it would have gridlocked the entire workings of the British parliament if they had to wait for weeks on end to decide an issue whenever an American colonial representative wanted to travel home to consult his voters.
But using the argument of democratic representation of course sounded better then the actual reason - which was "we don't want to pay more in tax!".
And the "funny" thing is American colonials actually paid far less in tax then British subjects in Britain.
It was common practice for all colonial nations to have lower taxes in the colonies - to encourage immigration and economic development there.
What the British wanted was to raise taxes slightly on their American colonies, to help pay for the cost of the French and Indian War they had just fought with French, protecting those colonies from invasion by the French.
But nope, the Americans where too used to freeloading on the regular British taxpayer to ever accept that - so they invented that pretext of representation to in reality refuse ever paying more in tax.
Which the British obviously couldn't let stand, as then all other colonies would soon demand the same special treatment.
So you ended up going to war over taxes, yes.
That may not be the story you like to tell yourself as a nation - but that's what actually happened.