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Difficulty: HardPhilosophical Foundations of the American Revolution

"To say that we have no rights but what are granted by the charter of this province, or by the indulgence of the crown, is to reduce us to the condition of tenants at will. The great Creator has given to all men a right to life, liberty, and the fruits of their industry. Governments are instituted among men not to create these rights, but to guard and secure them. When those who are entrusted with power subvert these ends, they violate the very social compact upon which their authority rests, and the people are released from their obligation of obedience."
— Letter in *The Boston Gazette*, 1772

Which of the following developments of the eighteenth century is most directly reflected in the ideas expressed in the excerpt?

  1. The adaptation of European Enlightenment political theories to justify colonial resistance to imperial authorityAnswer
  2. B
    The immediate response to the passing of the Coercive Acts, which prompted the initial draft of the Declaration of Independence
  3. C
    The debates over the balance of power between state legislatures and the federal government under the Articles of Confederation
  4. D
    The division between Federalists and Democratic-Republicans over the constitutionality of a national bank

Answer

The adaptation of European Enlightenment political theories to justify colonial resistance to imperial authority
The correct answer is correct because the concepts of a 'social compact' and inherent rights to 'life, liberty, and the fruits of their industry' directly stem from Enlightenment political philosophy, most notably the writings of John Locke. In the decade leading up to the American Revolution, colonial writers and activists adapted these European ideas to argue that British imperial policies violated their fundamental rights, thereby justifying resistance and eventual independence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus document to identify the core arguments.
The author argues that rights are inherent from a 'Creator' (natural rights) rather than granted by a monarch, and that government authority depends on a 'social compact.'
This establishes the theoretical framework of the document as natural rights and contract theory.
2
Contextualize the document within the timeline of the revolutionary era.
The document is dated 1772, placing it in the pre-revolutionary period of escalating tension between Great Britain and the colonies.
This helps eliminate post-revolutionary events and debates.
3
Connect the ideas to broader eighteenth-century intellectual movements.
The ideas of natural rights and the social contract originate from the European Enlightenment, particularly the writings of John Locke, which were adapted by American colonists to challenge British imperial policies.
This links the specific text to the correct historical development.
4
Evaluate the distractors for chronological and conceptual errors.
The Coercive Acts occurred in 1774, the Articles of Confederation debates occurred in the late 1770s and 1780s, and the Federalist/Democratic-Republican factions emerged in the 1790s.
This confirms that the other options contain clear errors in chronology or political context.

Key Concept

Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution

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