Final answer:
The question explores the colonists' responses to British authority, including rioting, boycotts, and objections to taxation without representation. John Dickinson's writings reflect a widespread belief among colonists that they were being enslaved by British policies. This resistance culminated in acts of rebellion and ultimately the Declaration of Independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The debate about the future of the colonies, particularly about resisting the British authority, included several pivotal actions and ideas from the colonists. Actions such as rioting against the Stamp Masters, boycotting English goods, and the significant discussion on the problems caused by British taxes and laws played crucial roles in the American movement toward independence. This sentiment is encapsulated in John Dickinson's assertion in his 'Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer' where he eloquently contended that taxation without representation equated to slavery, a viewpoint that received widespread circulation and support across the colonies.
Colonial resistance to British mandates and taxation policies, as highlighted by the boycott of English goods and rioting against Stamp Masters, was significantly influenced by the belief in the illegitimacy of internal taxes imposed by Parliament. The notion that colonial self-governance was being eroded through various acts imposed by the British cemented the argument that such taxes and policies were not only economically burdensome but also a violation of the rights of the colonists.
Notably, the growing disillusionment with the British control over colonial affairs, its economic implications, and the disregard for colonial legislatures led to violent confrontations like those at Lexington and Concord and the eventual Declaration of Independence in 1776.