The central argument of the American colonists against the Stamp Act that is not understood by the writer, "Pacificus," is that it is not the amount of tax that is the problem but rather the fact that the colonists were not involved in passing the tax. The writer seems to focus on the relative insignificance of the tax itself rather than acknowledging the larger issue of representation and consent in governance, which is a key point of contention for the colonists.
"Our colonies must be the biggest beggars in the world, if such small duties appear to be intolerable burdens in their eyes."
- "Pacificus," Marland gazette, march 20, 1766
this excerpt is from a citizen in england in response to the colonial outrage toward the stamp act. what central argument of the american colonists against the stamp act is not understood by the writer?
that the tax may seem small to those in england but for the american colonists it is a very large amount of money.
that it is not the amount of tax that is the problem but rather the fact that the colonists were not involved in passing the tax.
that although the tax is small, it is the idea that the colonists have to repay the british government for a war they did not support that is unjust.
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