Question

What argument does Thomas Jefferson make in ths excerpt from the Declaration of Independence?

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certaln unalenable
Rights, that among these are Luife, Liberty and the pursult of Happlness.-That to secure these rights, Governments are Instituted among
Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, It is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish It, and to instute new Government, laying ts foundatlon on such principles and
organizing Its powers Iin such forn, as to them shall seem most likely to effect thelr Safety and Happlness.
A The American colonists desire a more peaceful alllance with Great Britain but their British counterparts do not.
B. The American colonist l ght to seek freedom from Great Britaln due to the continued oppression of their basic rights.
C. The American colonies couro Torm a better government than the one established by Great Britain to govern them.
D. The king of Britaln and the members of British Parllament have lIttle Interest In the welfare of the colonles.
E. The American colonles should have sufficient representation In British Parllament if America and Great Britaln are to coexist
peacefully.

Answer 1

The American colonists seek to gain freedom from Great Britain due to the continued oppression of their basic rights option B.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this excerpt from the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson articulates a compelling argument for the American colonists' pursuit of independence from Great Britain. The central theme revolves around the inherent equality and unalienable rights of all individuals, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, which Jefferson asserts are granted by a higher power – the Creator. The purpose of government, according to Jefferson, is to secure these fundamental rights, and its legitimacy stems from the consent of the governed. Crucially, he contends that if a government obstructs these objectives and becomes destructive to these ends, the people have the right to alter or abolish it and institute a new government that prioritizes their safety and happiness.

Jefferson's argument underscores the colonists' belief that the British government, particularly the monarchy and Parliament, has failed in its duty to safeguard their basic rights. The call for the right to alter or abolish the existing government reflects a profound dissatisfaction with the oppressive policies and actions imposed by Great Britain on the American colonies. The Declaration of Independence serves as a foundational document expressing the colonists' firm conviction that their quest for freedom is not just a desire but a moral imperative grounded in the violation of their unalienable rights by the British authorities.

In summary, Jefferson's argument in the excerpt is a declaration of the American colonists' intent to seek independence from Great Britain based on the conviction that their basic rights are being systematically oppressed, justifying their right to form a new government that better aligns with the principles of equality, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness option B.