Final answer:
The quotation about the unconstitutionality of British revenue taxes is from the Declaration of the First Continental Congress, which articulated the colonies' grievances against British taxation policies, laying the groundwork for future revolutionary actions. The correct option is d. declaration of the first continental congress
Step-by-step explanation:
The excerpt describing the unconstitutionality of British revenue taxes on the American colonies in 1774 is a quotation from the Declaration of the First Continental Congress. The First Continental Congress gathered in response to the Intolerable Acts as a unified group to oppose Britain's policies toward the colonies.
They drafted a Declaration of American Rights, which outlined their grievances, including their belief in 'no taxation without representation' and the right to trial by jury. This document was a precursor to later revolutionary acts and highlighted the growing discontent with British rule.
Historical context shows that tension had been building for a long time, primarily due to acts like the Stamp Act, which levied taxes directly on the colonists without their consent. The Stamp Act Congress of 1765, which was convened in response, laid the groundwork for this sentiment.
The colonial leaders repeatedly claimed that Parliament had no right to tax them without proper representation. Acts subsequent to the Stamp Act, such as the Townshend Acts and the Tea Act, further instigated this colonial protest, eventually leading to the First Continental Congress in 1774. The correct option is d. declaration of the first continental congress