This option of representation for colonial America in Parliament was fairly well-known at the time: for example, it is discussed by Adam Smith in The Wealth of Nations, published in 1776, and was advocated by some opposition politicians in the British Parliament. The question of why it did not occur is also tackled directly by Sebastian Galiana and Gustavo Torrens in \”Why Not Taxation and Representation?A Note on the American Revolution\” (SSRN working paper, last updated June 2017). They ask:
\”To solve the puzzle posed by the American Revolution, we must answer two crucial questions. First, why did the North American colonies rebel? Second, why didn\’t the British authorities and the Americans elites reach a peaceful agreement for sharing the economic burden of defending the colonies in exchange for more political power for the American colonies? For example, why didn\’t the British agree to have American representation in the British Parliament and thus quickly placate the revolt? After all, the motto of the revolution was no taxation without representation, suggesting Americans would have been willing to accept taxation if the British Parliament would have granted them political representation and/or greater political autonomy.\”
Galiana and Torrens summarize earlier research in colonial history that substantiates the following points:
\”1. The American colonies were prosperous. They were richer and had a more equal income distribution than Great Britain and other European nations. …
2. British mercantilist policies and other economic regulations were not that burdensome for the colonies and membership in the British Empireís trade system was probably quite beneÖcial for the colonies. …
3. The American colonies had relatively inclusive institutions. …
4. The British Empire had shown its willingness to defend the American colonies and the colonies had shown their willingness to be part of the Empire, especially during the Seven Years War. …
5. The amount that Great Britain was spending on the colonies was considerable, and the colonies did not generate sufficient revenue to make them an advantageous undertaking….
6. The American colonies paid little in taxes and the British Parliament had been ineffective in increasing their tax burden. …
7. Although France and other British rivals provided military support, rebellion was nonetheless very costly for the colonies. …
8. Rebellion was a very risky and dangerous enterprise for the American elites. …\”
Given this background, why did the American Revolution come to pass. Some of the reason, of course, is that the American colonists included a relatively high proportion of ornery tax-hating, liberty-lovers. But political matters on both shifting in the mid-1760s.
\”After the Seven Years War, the core of the dominant political coalition in Great Britain was composed of the landed gentry, whose power rested on a political system based on land ownership. The leader of the coalition, Prime Minister Lord North, had the support of the king. His cabinet was composed of Bedfordite ministers and, when dealing with serious issues, Lord North could always count on the support of Parliament, which was dominated by landed gentry. The coalition also enjoyed the support of the High Anglican Church. The members of this coalition were all loyal to a political system based on land ownership, and they considered the members of the general public to be unfit to participate in politics and objected to the idea of making any concessions to the American colonies. … The landed gentry, who controlled the incumbent government, feared that making concessions to the American colonies would intensify the pressure for democratic reforms, thus jeopardizing their economic and political position.\”
Readers interested in some further discussion of economics and colonial times, while also looking to escape from the obligatory family picnic and occupy the time before the July 4 fireworks display, might also want to check some earlier posts:
- \”Trying to Envision the Original United States\” (July 4, 2016)
- \”Adam Smith on the Economics of US Independence\” (July 4, 2013).
- \”Economic Underpinnings of the U.S. Revolutionary War\” (January 31, 2012)
- \”Independence and Depression: Economics of the American Revolution\” (November 8, 2011)