Members of Parliament: Sympathetic With the Colonies
Two members of Parliament that were sympathetic to the grievances of the colonies were William Pitt and Edmund Burke. Neither believed that Parliament could force the colonies to obey laws and they thought the colonists could decide for themselves what they were taxed on.
William Pitt
"The right of the legislature of Great Britain to impose taxes upon her colonies . . . [was] so indisputably clear" (Davis).
--William Pitt
--William Pitt
--Even Pitt, who was sympathetic to
the colonies, thought that Parliament had
the right to impose taxes.
--Believed Parliament had the right to tax,
but colonies did not have to obey
the colonies, thought that Parliament had
the right to impose taxes.
--Believed Parliament had the right to tax,
but colonies did not have to obey
Edmund Burke
"[A] great black book and a great many red coats [would] never be able to govern [America]" (Davis).
--Edmund Burke
--Against army being used to enforce laws
--Burke did not think that England could
force colonists to obey
