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Difficulty: MediumPhilosophical Foundations of the American Revolution

Source: Virginia Declaration of Rights, 1776

'That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.'

Which of the following political philosophies is most directly reflected in the ideas expressed in this excerpt?

  1. A
    The procedural argument against parliamentary taxation, which claimed that only colonial assemblies had the authority to levy internal taxes.
  2. The concept of natural rights and the social contract theory, which argue that governments are formed to protect individuals' inherent liberties.Answer
  3. C
    The constitutional debate over the division of power, which argues that a strong federal executive is necessary to check state legislative sovereignty.
  4. D
    The economic theory of mercantilism, which asserts that individuals must surrender their private property to the state to maintain a national trade surplus.

Answer

The concept of natural rights and the social contract theory, which argue that governments are formed to protect individuals' inherent liberties.
The correct answer is correct because the excerpt directly reflects the Enlightenment theories of natural rights and the social contract. By stating that men possess 'inherent rights' to 'life and liberty' and 'property' that cannot be divested by 'compact' when entering 'society,' the document relies on Lockean concepts to justify the protection of individual freedom against government overreach.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the primary source text for key political terms.
The text contains terms like 'inherent rights', 'state of society', 'compact', and rights to 'life and liberty' and 'property'.
Identifying these key terms connects the passage directly to Enlightenment political theory.
2
Associate the identified concepts with their historical philosophies.
The ideas of inherent rights and a societal compact align with John Locke's natural rights and social contract theories.
Lockean principles served as the primary philosophical foundation for colonial declarations of rights during the Revolutionary era.

Key Concept

Natural Rights and Social Contract Theory
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution

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