Question

What does James Otis's quote MEAN? "Taxation without representation, is tyranny?"

Answer 1

Without the colonists having a representative in the British Parliament, they could be taxed on whatever the king wanted taxed. The definition of tyranny is an oppressive government, and because of several taxes on popular goods used in the colonies, it oppressed the economy there. Also, the Declaratory Act stated that Parliament could make laws binding the American colonies "in all cases whatsoever.", which is an example of oppressive government as well.

Answer 2

reflected the resentment of American colonists at being taxed by a British Parliament to which they elected no representatives and became an anti-British slogan before the American Revolution