Final answer:
The colonists' objection was primarily directed at how the tax money would be applied, rather than the principle of taxation itself, which they did not necessarily oppose. This distinction contributed to the overall discontent leading up to the American Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question asks about the colonial attitude toward taxation and whether the colonists objected to the principle of taxation or the application of taxed funds. The direct answer to the question is:
True - The colonists did not necessarily object to the principle of taxation, but rather how the tax money would be applied.
An explanation for this is that during the period leading up to the American Revolution, the colonists were primarily concerned with the lack of representation in the British Parliament, which was making decisions about how to tax the colonies and spend the revenue without their consent. This sentiment was encapsulated in the famous phrase "No taxation without representation." It was not the idea of being taxed that bothered them so much as it was the way in which taxes were levied and used without their input or benefit. This idea connects to other historical issues such as the Three-Fifths Compromise, which also dealt with questions of representation and taxation.