Absolutism and Revolution — Test

Question 22 • World History

Why was taxation without representation considered a violation of the social contract?

Answer

Taxation without representation violated the colonists’ natural right to property.

Taxation without representation was causing large debt in the colonies.

Taxation without representation ignored the colonists’ legal right to have the colonial government, not the British government, determine taxes.

Taxation without representation indicated a lack of consent between the government and its citizens.

Explanation

The social contract is the idea that government gets its authority from the consent of the people it governs. Colonists argued that Parliament taxed them without allowing them representation, so they had no meaningful way to consent to those taxes. Therefore, taxation without representation showed a lack of consent between the government and its citizens.

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