The American colonists believed that since they did not have in the British Parliament, they should not have to pay taxes.

The answer is Representation! This comes from the well-known phrase, “no taxation without representation.” During the American Revolution, many taxes were placed onto the colonists after a long period of salutary neglect, because the British were in debt after the French and Indian War. However, The colonists resisted because they did not have any say in the British parliament.

Suspicious of a strong national government