A key reason for colonial resistance to British rule was taxation without representation.

Colonists felt it was unfair to be taxed by a Parliament in which they had no elected representatives. This feeling intensified with the introduction of measures such as the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts, which levied various taxes and duties on everyday goods without any input from the colonies. The slogan "no taxation without representation" emerged as a rallying cry, bringing colonists together in their resistance to British policies. It underscored their aspirations for self-governance and civil rights, ultimately igniting the revolutionary movement aimed at achieving independence from British rule.