Small Steps Toward Freedom: A Colony Asserts Its Right to Govern

Jul 1, 2025 by AFP

The Virginia House of Burgesses Passed the Virginia Resolves — 1765

Change doesn’t always arrive with fanfare. Sometimes it starts quietly, in a vote, a resolution, or a bold assertion of principle. In 1765, that moment came when the Virginia House of Burgesses passed the Virginia Resolves in response to the British Stamp Act. Their declaration? That only Virginia, not Parliament in London, had the right to tax Virginians. With those words, they set in motion a growing resistance to unchecked power.

Taxation Without Representation

The Stamp Act was Britain’s attempt to raise revenue by taxing everyday transactions in the colonies. As its name suggests, it taxed stamps but also items such as newspapers and legal documents. The implementation of these taxes highlighted that colonists were being governed by a system that did not represent them.

A Spark That Lit a Fire

However, the Virginia Resolves were more than a tax protest; they were a defense of self-governance. When newspapers printed the Resolves across the colonies, they sparked a firestorm of debate and inspired other colonial assemblies to take action.

A Declaration That Still Echoes

What made the Virginia Resolves so powerful was their clarity. They reminded everyone that governments derive their power from the consent of the governed, not from distant rulers or unaccountable elites. That idea would echo again in 1776, and it still resonates today. The desire for local control, limited government, and individual liberty is not new—it’s foundational.

Carrying the Legacy Forward

At Americans for Prosperity, we see that same spirit in the work we do today. Like the Burgesses, we believe that real change starts at the local level, with individuals who are willing to speak up, organize, and take a stand. We don’t wait for top-down solutions. We partner with citizens across the country to push for policies that reflect their values, protect their freedoms, and give them a voice in their future.

What Step Will You Take?

The Virginia Resolves simply said: “We will govern ourselves.” It was one small step that helped shape a nation. And now, it’s up to us to carry that legacy forward.

Will you take that step with us? Volunteer today at afpvolunteer.com