One might say, without taking sides, that the 8th grader view is just as myopic (well, it would have to be at least a little simplified for 8th graders). Perhaps we can tentatively say that the problem was that the inadequate British constitutional framework for the governance of colonies, in conjunction with new ideas of "nationhood", allowed differing interpretations of the legal issues, which enabled both simplified interpretations ("pay for navy, etc." and "no tax without representation") to be used as soapboxes.
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