Virtual representation is a concept that led to conflict between the colonists and the British government. The concept of virtual representation means that every lawmaker represents not only the people from his or her area but also all the people throughout the country or empire. The colonists were upset because they didn’t have representatives that they elected to Parliament. Thus, they felt their rights were being violated when tax laws were passed, and they didn’t have elected representatives that could speak about and vote on these proposed laws.

The British believed that every representative in Parliament was representing the best interests of the people throughout the country and throughout the empire. The British argued that since virtual representation existed in Great Britain, it should also exist in the British colonies. The British believed that the colonists did have representation in Parliament because virtual representation existed. The colonists disagreed and eventually after a series of events and challenges occurred, they declared their independence from Great Britain when the colonists believed those challenges couldn’t be peacefully resolved.