Question

When the american colonists declared independence in 1776, what principle did they argue that britain had violated? legally binding magna carta precedent decision social contract

Answer 1

The colonists asserted that by imposing taxes without representation and inhibiting self-governance, Britain had breached the social contract, a principle that a government must have the consent of the governed.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the American colonists declared independence in 1776, they argued that Britain had violated the principle of the social contract. This idea, popularized by Enlightenment philosopher John Locke, maintains that a government gains legitimacy through the consent of the governed. The colonists believed that through acts such as imposing taxes without representation, denying trials by jury, and inhibiting self-government, Britain had broken the trust underlying the social contract. Consequently, in the Declaration of Independence, they asserted their right to establish a new government that would protect their natural rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These Enlightenment-inspired concepts became the foundation for a new nation predicated on the will and wellbeing of its citizens rather than the dictates of a distant monarch.

Answer 2

Answer: social contract

Step-by-step explanation:

got it right on the test. "By 1776, however, the group decided that the social contract with Great Britain was beyond repair. Delegates selected a committee to draft the Declaration of Independence. Inspired in part by the Enlightenment and the Magna Carta, colonial leaders declared their inherent rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."'