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Difficulty: MediumPhilosophical Foundations of the American Revolution

Read the excerpt below.

"Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher. Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one..."
—Thomas Paine, *Common Sense*, 1776

Which of the following actions did American colonists most directly justify using the philosophical view of government expressed in the excerpt?

  1. Resisting British imperial authority and declaring independence from the monarchyAnswer
  2. B
    Replacing the Articles of Confederation with a stronger federal constitution
  3. C
    Organizing the first political parties to challenge Federalist economic policies
  4. D
    Demanding direct colonial representation in the British Parliament as a condition for paying taxes

Answer

Resisting British imperial authority and declaring independence from the monarchy
The correct option is correct because Thomas Paine's Common Sense argued that government is at best a 'necessary evil' and that when a government causes miseries (such as British colonial rule did), the subjects have a right to reject it. This philosophy directly supported the Patriot cause of resisting British authority and declaring independence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus text to identify the author's core philosophical argument.
Thomas Paine describes government as a 'necessary evil' that is only justified if it protects society, and asserts that an oppressive government is 'intolerable.'
Understanding the core argument is essential for connecting the text to the historical actions it was written to support.
2
Contextualize the document within the timeline of the American Revolution.
The document was published in January 1776, a pivotal moment when colonists were debating whether to reconcile with Great Britain or seek full independence.
Placing the source in its correct historical context helps eliminate options that occurred much later, such as the Constitutional Convention or the rise of political parties.
3
Connect the philosophical argument to the specific political goals of the Patriots in 1776.
Paine's depiction of government as a potential source of intolerable calamity was used to delegitimize the British monarchy and mobilize public support for independence.
This establishes why the correct option is the most direct application of the excerpt's ideas.

Key Concept

The use of Enlightenment philosophy to justify the American Revolution and the rejection of monarchical rule.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution

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