Ace the 2026 U.S. History STAAR – Conquer Texas with Knowledge!

The phrase "Taxation without representation is tyranny" is primarily associated with James Otis, who was an early advocate for the rights of the colonies against British taxation policies. In the 1760s, Otis argued that it was unjust for the colonies to be taxed by a Parliament in which they had no representatives. His ideas helped to lay the groundwork for the growing sentiment against British rule, contributing to the rising revolutionary fervor among the colonies.

Otis’s assertion that taxation imposed without the consent of the governed was a form of oppression resonated strongly with many colonists and became a rallying cry in the lead-up to the American Revolutionary War. This phrase encapsulated the feelings of disenfranchisement that many felt during this period, leading to widespread demands for greater political representation and ultimately revolution against British authority.