Final answer:
The colonists protested taxes by Parliament because they viewed them as an infringement upon their rights, given the lack of direct representation in Parliament, as argued based on the English Bill of Rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The colonists protested most taxes passed by Parliament because they believed that these taxes were a violation of their rights as English subjects. Under the English Bill of Rights of 1689, the colonists argued that, without representation in Parliament, they shouldn't be subject to the laws and especially the taxes it created. This idea was rooted in historical precedents like Magna Carta, which enshrined the right for people or their representatives to consent to taxation.
The British concept of "virtual" representation was deemed inappropriate for the colonists' unique circumstances since they could not elect representatives to Parliament. The protests took various forms, including boycotting English goods, rioting, and vocal arguments against internal taxation. These actions highlighted the political tension between the desire for self-government among colonists and the British government's efforts to exert control.