Question

“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 trade was heavily restricted due to the taxes, which made it difficult for the colonists to make enough money to live let alone pay the taxes
that trade was heavily restricted due to the taxes, which made it difficult for the colonists to make enough money to live let alone pay the taxes

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

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 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
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Answer 1

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.**

This highlights the principle of "no taxation without representation," which was a core grievance of the colonists, emphasizing that they felt it was unjust to be taxed by a government in which they had no elected representatives.