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Difficulty: EasyPhilosophical Foundations of the American Revolution

"Among the natural rights of the Colonists are these: First, a right to life; Secondly, to liberty; Thirdly, to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can. These are evident branches of, rather than deductions from, the duty of self-preservation, commonly called the first law of nature."

— Samuel Adams, *The Rights of the Colonists*, 1772

Which of the following intellectual concepts from the European Enlightenment most directly inspired the claims in the excerpt?

  1. John Locke's theory of natural rightsAnswer
  2. B
    The economic theory of mercantilism designed to enrich the mother country
  3. C
    The constitutional division of power between states and the federal government
  4. D
    The parliamentary principle of direct taxation to pay off imperial war debts

Answer

John Locke's theory of natural rights
The correct answer is John Locke's theory of natural rights because Samuel Adams specifically enumerates 'life, liberty, and property' as inherent, natural rights, which directly matches Locke's foundational social contract philosophy that influenced the American revolutionary mindset.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the text for key terms and concepts.
The text explicitly mentions the right to 'life,' 'liberty,' and 'property' as 'natural rights.'
This identifies the specific core argument of the stimulus.
2
Match the identified concepts to European Enlightenment philosophies.
The concepts of life, liberty, and property are central to John Locke's philosophy of government and human rights.
This connects the document's claims to their philosophical origin.

Key Concept

Natural Rights and the Enlightenment influence on the American Revolution
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Topics

Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution

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