Final answer:
Massachusetts opposed sending delegates to the British Parliament, favoring actual representation in local assemblies and resisting the idea of virtual representation. The Massachusetts Government Act's limitations on town meetings and the colony's actions, including the Suffolk Resolves and Samuel Adams' Circular, reflect this sentiment and contributed to the formation of self-governance and the American Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sentiment in Massachusetts against sending delegates to Parliament was anchored in the belief that actual, not virtual, representation was necessary to adequately represent colonial interests. Colonists argued that Members of Parliament, separated by vast oceanic distances, could not sufficiently understand or represent American concerns. This pushback was a part of the broader imperial struggle where Massachusetts citizens sought local legislative assemblies for governance, evidenced by John Adams' advocacy for representation that mirrors the people. The Massachusetts Government Act, which altered how their legislature functioned, further exacerbated tensions by permitting only one town meeting per year, severely limiting local governance.
Frustration with British policies led to various actions in Massachusetts, such as the formation of the Provincial Congress and the Suffolk Resolves, which opposed the Coercive Acts and provided for the establishment of militias. These acts effectively signaled the beginning of self-government in Massachusetts separate from royal authority. Moreover, Samuel Adams' Massachusetts Circular called for union among colonies to resist taxation without representation, laying the groundwork for collective action against British policies.
The discussions around representation and resistance to British law culminated in Massachusetts' significant role in the American Revolution, ultimately influencing the creation of their own constitution and contributing to the democratization efforts that defined the newly independent United States.