Which phrase summarizes the colonial grievance concerning taxation?

The phrase "No taxation without representation" encapsulates the central grievance of the American colonists regarding British taxation practices leading up to the American Revolution. This slogan emerged as a response to various acts and taxes imposed by the British Parliament, such as the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts, which were seen as unjust because the colonists had no representatives to voice their interests or concerns in that legislative body.

The colonists felt that they should not be subject to taxes imposed on them without having a voice in the government that enacted those taxes. The principle behind this grievance highlights a fundamental demand for political representation and fairness in governance, emphasizing that any taxation should come with the consent of the governed. This feeling of disenfranchisement significantly contributed to the desire for independence and the eventual outbreak of the Revolution.

Other choices may touch on concepts related to governance or freedom, but they do not capture the specific and pivotal sentiment that defined the colonial resistance to British rule as effectively as “No taxation without representation.”