Our Colonies must be the biggest Beggars in the World, if such small Duties appear to be intolerable Burdens in their Eyes.” —“Pacificus,” Maryland Gazette, March 20, 1766 Use the excerpt to answer the question. 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? (1 point) Responses that the tax may seem small to those in England but for the American colonists it is a very large amount of money 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 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 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

5 answers

The central argument of the American colonists against the Stamp Act that is not understood by the writer 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's focus on the small duties suggests a lack of comprehension of the principle of "no taxation without representation," which was a key grievance for the colonists. They believed that as subjects of the British Crown, they should have a voice in the legislative decisions that affected them, not just be subject to taxes imposed by a Parliament in which they had no representation.

so whats the answer

The answer is: "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."

are you sure?

Yes, I am sure. The statement reflects a key principle of the American colonists' argument against the Stamp Act: they opposed not just the tax itself, but the lack of representation in the decision-making process that imposed that tax. This principle of "no taxation without representation" was fundamental to their discontent. Thus, the quote from the citizen in England indicates a misunderstanding of this important aspect of the colonists' grievances.