Parson's Cause

Q: What was the Parson's Cause?

The Parson's Cause was the name given to a lawsuit held in the colony of Virginia on 1 December 1763. In it, a young Patrick Henry successfully argued that the king had no right to interfere with the taxation laws of Virginia.

Q: What was the significance of the Parson's Cause?

The Parson's Cause was significant for 2 reasons: it advanced the career of Patrick Henry, a future American Founding Father. It also was one of the first instances in which the Americans pushed back against British attempts to interfere with their taxation laws, which became a key issue in the American Revolution.

Q: What case made Patrick Henry famous?

Patrick Henry first rose to prominence after arguing the Parson's Cause, in which he denounced the tyranny of the king.

Harrison W. Mark

Parson's Cause

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Definition

The Parson's Cause was a legal and political controversy that arose in the British colony of Virginia in the early 1760s. In response to the royal veto of the Two Penny Act, a policy passed by Virginia's House of Burgesses, a young lawyer named Patrick Henry successfully argued that the king had no right to interfere with colonial tax policies.

More about: Parson's Cause

Timeline

1 Dec 1763
Patrick Henry argues the Parson's Cause in the Hanover County Courthouse, arguing that the king has no authority to interfere with Virginia's taxation laws.

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