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Difficulty: EasyPhilosophical Foundations of the American Revolution

Read the excerpt below.

"But where say some is the King of America? I'll tell you Friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like the Royal Brute of Britain. Yet that we may not appear to be defective even in earthly honors, let a day be solemnly set apart for proclaiming the charter; let it be brought forth placed on the divine law, the word of God; let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America THE LAW IS KING."
— Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776

The ideas expressed in this excerpt most directly reflect which of the following beliefs of the American revolutionaries?

  1. A
    The need for a strong, centralized federal executive to enforce national laws.
  2. B
    The acceptance of Parliament's right to tax the colonies if they had virtual representation.
  3. A commitment to republicanism and the rule of law rather than monarchical rule.Answer
  4. D
    The Federalist insistence on strict construction of charters to limit government power.

Answer

A commitment to republicanism and the rule of law rather than monarchical rule.
The correct answer is correct because Thomas Paine's assertion that 'in America the law is king' directly champions the revolutionary principles of republicanism and the rule of law. This philosophy rejected absolute monarchy and argued that government should be bound by written charters and representative laws rather than the arbitrary rule of an individual.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus text to identify the central argument and context.
The text, written by Thomas Paine in 1776, argues that in America 'the law is king,' contrasting this concept with the British system where the King is the law.
Identifying the author's primary argument is the first step to connecting the passage to revolutionary ideology.
2
Relate the identified argument to the core political philosophies of the American Revolution.
The concept that law is supreme and that monarchy should be rejected is a core tenet of republicanism and the rule of law.
Linking the textual evidence to historical concepts allows for the identification of the target learning objective.
3
Evaluate the options to find the one that matches this political philosophy.
The option prioritizing republicanism and the rule of law matches Paine's argument, whereas the other options describe separate historical events or chronologically later debates.
Comparing the options to the identified concepts ensures that the correct answer is selected based on historical accuracy.

Key Concept

Republicanism and the Rule of Law
Estimated Time:50s
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Topics

Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution

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