Center for Dermatology and Laser Surgery

. . . 1 Colonial America Justice Nominated Appointed U.S Capitol The Amistad Republicanism 8.2 Tidal Potomac The Parliament at Westminster saw itself as the supreme lawmaking authority throughout all British possessions and thus entitled to levy any tax without colonial approval. They argued that the colonies were legally British corporations that were completely subordinate to the British parliament and pointed to numerous instances where Parliament had made laws binding on the colonies in the past. They did not see anything in the unwritten British constitution that made taxes special and noted that they had taxed American trade for decades Parliament insisted that the colonies effectively enjoyed a "virtual representation" as most British people did as only a small minority of the British population elected representatives to Parliament. Americans such as James Otis maintained that the Americans were not in fact virtually represented. .

Slaves were generally prohibited by law from associating in groups with the exception of worship services (a reason why the Black church is such a notable institution in black communities today) Following Nat Turner's rebellion in 1831 which raised white fears throughout the South some states also prohibited or restricted religious gatherings of slaves or required that they be officiated by white men Planters feared that group meetings would facilitate communication among slaves that could lead to rebellion. Slaves held private secret "brush meetings" in the woods. . ! .