Use the passage to answer the question.

Question

The residents of Washington, DC are pay the highest per capita federal taxes in the entire United States. Yet, they are not allowed voting representation in the U.S. Congress. Taxation without representation is wrong—in fact, it was the main issue that led the American colonies to fight for their independence. Washington, DC should receive statehood and the same representation as any other state.
A student is developing a counterclaim to this argument. Which evidence would be most helpful in developing a fair and effective counterclaim?

(1 point)
Responses

As the capital of the United States, Washington, DC was never meant to be a state because the founding fathers feared its people would have too much influence.
As the capital of the United States, Washington, DC was never meant to be a state because the founding fathers feared its people would have too much influence.

The Twenty-Third Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted Washington, DC residents the right to vote in all presidential elections and the electoral college.
The Twenty-Third Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted Washington, DC residents the right to vote in all presidential elections and the electoral college.

Residents of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and other U.S. territories are not allowed voting representation in the U.S. Congress either.
Residents of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and other U.S. territories are not allowed voting representation in the U.S. Congress either.

In a recent national poll, nearly 80 percent of one major party's voters said that they would not support making Washington, DC a state.
In a recent national poll, nearly 80 percent of one major party's voters said that they would not support making Washington, DC a state.
Skip to navigation

Answer 1

To develop a fair and effective counterclaim to the argument that Washington, DC should receive statehood due to taxation without representation, the most helpful piece of evidence would be:

As the capital of the United States, Washington, DC was never meant to be a state because the founding fathers feared its people would have too much influence.

This evidence directly addresses the foundational reasons behind the establishment of Washington, DC as a federal district, highlighting the intention of the founding fathers and providing a historical context for why DC may not fit the criteria for statehood.