Virtual representation
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Virtual representation was a concept in colonial-era Britain, based on the belief that a Member of Parliament "virtually represented" every person in the colonies, and there was no need for a specific representative from each colony. Specifically, virtual representation was the antithesis of "No taxation without representation" in the Thirteen Colonies. The problem with this thesis is that there was no proper representation of the American Colonies by their British Leaders. As the Sons of Liberty said, they had taxation, but no representation. British leaders thousands of miles away knew very little of the wants and desires of the American colonists.
Forms of virtual representation were not unknown in America. Legislators in the Virginia House of Burgesses could live in one district while representing another one. This served as a catalyst in the development of The American Revolution, which would later spring The Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
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