Final answer:
The colonists felt the 'social contract' had been violated by King George III because they felt their rights were not being protected by the British government. This led to the colonists arguing this violation justified their decision to seek independence, which they declared in the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Step-by-step explanation:
The colonists felt the 'social contract' had been violated by King George III because they believed that their rights to 'life, liberty, and property' were not being protected by the British government. The idea of a 'social contract' comes from philosophers like John Locke, who suggested that people contract with their government: people agree to abide by laws and accept punishments, in return for protection of their natural rights.
However, in the case of the American Colonists, they felt that King George III was infringing upon these rights through actions such as unfair taxation (like the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts), the quartering of British troops in colonist's homes, and the restriction of their trade. The colonists felt that since the British government and King George III were not upholding their end of the 'social contract' by not protecting their rights, they were justified in seeking independence, which they put forth in the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Learn more about 'social contract'