Question

lesson 2.2 practice - the stamp act
use the following excerpt to answer the questions that follow. as you answer the questions, highlight the evidence in the text that supports your answer to each question.
doc a - the stamp act
benjamin franklin, testimony before the house of commons relating to the repeal (removal) of the stamp act 13 feb. 1766
q. was it an opinion in america before 1763 that the parliament had no right to lay taxes and duties there?
a. i never heard any objection to the right of laying duties to regulate commerce; but a right to lay internal taxes was never supposed to be in parliament, as we are not represented there.
q. you say the colonists have always submitted to external taxes, and object to the right of parliament only in laying internal taxes; now can you show that there is any kind of difference between the two taxes to the colony on which they may be laid?
a. i think the difference is very great. an external tax is a duty laid on commodities imported; that duty is added to the first cost, and other charges on the commodity, and when it is offered to sale, makes a part of the price. if the people do not like it at that price, they refuse it; they are not obliged to pay it. but an internal tax is forced from the people without their consent, if not laid by their own representatives. the stamp act says we shall have no commerce, make no exchange of property with each other, neither purchase nor grant, nor recover debts; we shall neither marry, nor make our wills, unless we pay such and such sums, and thus it is intended to extort our money from us, or ruin us by the consequences of refusing to pay it.

1. why does franklin argue parliament does not have the right to lay (create) internal taxes?
2. why does franklin argue an internal tax is different from an external one?
3. according to franklin, who has a right to lay an internal tax on the colonists?
4. what does franklin say is the true purpose of the stamp act?

Explanation:

1. Franklin argues Parliament does not have the right to lay internal taxes because the colonists are not represented in Parliament.
2. He says an external tax is a duty on imported commodities that becomes part of the price and people can choose not to buy if they don't like the price. An internal tax is forced from the people without their consent if not laid by their own representatives.
3. According to Franklin, the colonists' own representatives have the right to lay an internal tax on the colonists.
4. Franklin says the true purpose of the Stamp Act is to extort money from the colonists or ruin them by the consequences of refusing to pay it.

Answer:

1. Because the colonists are not represented in Parliament.
2. External tax is on imported goods and people can choose not to buy; internal tax is forced without consent if not by their own representatives.
3. The colonists' own representatives.
4. To extort money from the colonists or ruin them by non - payment consequences.