Answer:
The philosophical belief that matched the colonists' view was social contract theory.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social contract theory is a political philosophy that holds that individuals are bound to society by a social contract, an agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for mutual benefit.
This theory was developed by English philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes and John Locke in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The colonists believed that the British government had violated the social contract by imposing unjust taxes and laws on them without their consent.
They argued that they had the right to rebel against the government and establish their own government based on the principles of social contract theory.
Here are some of the key tenets of social contract theory that aligned with the colonists' views:
- Consent of the governed: The government derives its authority from the consent of the people.
- Limited government: The government's power is limited by the social contract and cannot exceed the rights of the people.
- Natural rights: Individuals have certain natural rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and property, which the government cannot infringe upon.
- Right to revolution: If the government violates the social contract, the people have the right to overthrow it.
These principles of social contract theory provided the philosophical framework for the American Revolution and the colonists' fight for independence.
Thus,
Social contract theory is the philosophical belief that matched the colonists' view.