Final answer:
John Locke's ideas of a social contract and natural rights influenced the American Revolution, with breaches of the contract by England including harm to persons and property, taxation without representation, and overall failure to protect colonists' rights to life, liberty, and property.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you were going to argue that John Locke's ideas about a social contract lead to the American Revolution, you could cite several pieces of evidence that the social contract was broken by England. Most compellingly, Locke's theory posits that people sacrifice some freedom and consent to be ruled in exchange for the government's protection of their lives, liberty, and property. When these are not protected, the government breaks the contract. For instance:
- Natural rights were being destroyed when soldiers destroyed property and harmed citizens, as in the instances leading up to the Boston Massacre.
- The colonists argued that they had a right to be represented in Parliament and not to be taxed without representation—a right they felt was denied to them, culminating in resistance such as the Boston Tea Party.
- Locke's theory of natural rights, which includes the right to life, liberty, and property, influenced many political documents and was reflected in the Declaration of Independence. The refusal to grant these rights and protections was seen as a breach of the social contract, legitimizing revolution.