Name: Joe Peck

Period: 3

Resolved: The American colonists were justified in their rebellion against Great Britain.
I. Supporting Paragraph One
A. Point
1. Great Britain violated the colonists rights as Englishmen by taking back the abilities
of self-government from colonists and placing taxes on them without their consent.
B. Example(s) (Historical Evidence)
1. No scutage or aid may be levied in our kingdom without its general consent
(Magna Carta).
2. Americans were stunned. They had always had the right to make their own laws and
taxes. Suddenly, Britain was changing the rules (Hart 63).
C. Explain
1. On #12 in the Magna Carta (1215), it states that no taxes shall be passed without the
general consent of the citizens. The British did not have the consent of the colonists
before passing these laws, therefore breaking their own rules.
2. From 1607 to 1763, the British government left the American colonists by themselves
to create their own self-government. This is also known as salutary neglect, and under
salutary neglect, the rules of Parliament were very lenient so the colonists became very
used to the feeling of freedom and independence. All of a sudden, the British began
placing taxes on the colonists and expected them to pay for the debt that the British
were in.
D. Explore (Analysis)
1. The colonists had created a self-government due to salutary neglect, and it was running
very well. Suddenly colonists became aware that they were not allowed access to the

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Name: Joe Peck

Period: 3

land west of the Appalachian Mountains. This was the Proclamation of 1763, which
was followed by the Quartering Act (1765), the Stamp Act (1765) and many other acts
that were used to get money for the British to pay off their debt. In conclusion, for the
British to neglect the colonies that had their own working self-government for 150
years, and then to start taxing them without their consent is by far illegal and against
the rules of the Magna Carta, signed by King John in 1215.
Refutation - Identify and disprove the oppositions main argument(s).
II. Refutation Paragraph
A.Oppositions Point (Great Britains Argument)
1. Colonists in America are represented in Parliament via virtual representation.
B. Colonists Counter-Point (Refutation)
1. Great Britain violated the colonists rights as Englishmen by placing taxes on them
without representation of the colonists.
C. Example(s) (Historical Evidence)
1. No scutage or aid may be levied in our kingdom without its general consent
(Magna Carta).
D. Explain
1. In the Magna Carta (1215), it clearly states that no taxes are to be passed without the
general consent of the kingdom. King John signed this document so it became a law
and should be obeyed by the king and Parliament. The king or queen may be powerful
in England, but not even the king/queen is above the law.

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Name: Joe Peck

Period: 3

E. Explore (Analysis)
1. The colonists had their own general assembly and were running their own
government until Parliament began passing taxes and laws without the consent of the
colonist. This was clearly illegal according to Magna Carta #12 in which King John
signed. The Stamp Act (1765) and the Tea Act (1773) are two examples of the laws
that Parliament passed against the colonists without consent. These laws kept being
passed until the colonists had had enough and rebelled.

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