Home › AP US History › History › The War of Independence › What did the English principle of virtual repres…
What did the English principle of virtual representation mean?
ARepresentation by each colony sending two members
BRepresentation by the King acting for all subjects
CRepresentation by property owners only
DRepresentation by classes and interests, not by place
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. Representation by classes and interests, not by place
1. The colonies held that they could only be represented by members they actually elected to the Commons.
2. The orthodox English answer was the principle of virtual representation.
3. On that principle a member stood for classes and interests rather than for a locality.
4. Most British officials therefore treated Parliament as an imperial body that could legislate for Massachusetts as for Berkshire.
5. Two members for each colony would be representation by locality, which is the idea the principle denies.
_Source: An Outline of American History (U.S. Information Agency, 1990, public domain), section TAX DISPUTE ABATES_
Related questions
Why did Britain judge the old colonial system inadequate once the fighting with France endBesides acknowledging independence, which territory did the peace settlement grant the 13 Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga in October 1777. Which consequence made that the turning Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766. Which pressure moved it to yield?Colonial lawyers accepted one kind of parliamentary tax in theory but called the other newWhich colony sent no delegate at all to the first Continental Congress in 1774?What did the Boston Port Bill do to the city of Boston?Which single duty did Parliament keep in 1770 when it repealed the Townshend duties?