Colonialism in the House of Burgesses

Astonishment over the stamp act found its first and most eloquent expression in the virginia house of burgesses. A young attorney named patrick henry gave a rather inflammatory speech asserting that colonial assemblies had the exclusive right of taxation. The resolves were a set of five resolutions that staked a defiant colonial position. They went like this: When colonists emigrated to america, they brought with them all their rights as englishmen. Second, the virginia colonial charter granted by king james explicitly stated that colonists would be treated as if they lived in england. Third, that the right to self taxation is the distinguishing characteristic of british freedom. Fourth, that this is exactly