Question

When do men have a right to a revolution in this .all men recognize the right of revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to, and to resist, the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable ___ in other words, when a sixth of the population of a nation which has undertaken to be the refuge of liberty are slaves, and a whole country is unjustly overrun and conquered by a foreign army, and subjected to military law, i think that it is not too soon for honest men to rebel and revolutionize. what makes this duty the more urgent is the fact that the country so overrun is not our own, but ours is the invading army.

Answer 1

The right of revolution is justified when a government fails to protect the natural rights of its citizens, becoming tyrannical or inefficient to the point of being unendurable. Key figures like Thoreau, Jefferson, and Paine express this idea, emphasizing that it is the duty of citizens to seek change when systematic oppression occurs. While revolution is seen as a last resort, it is an essential mechanism to ensure liberty and the public good.

Step-by-step explanation:

Individuals like Henry David Thoreau and Thomas Jefferson have echoed a sentiment throughout history that underpins the very notion of democracy: that governments derive their power from the consent of the governed. Influence such as Thoreau's articulation in Walden of the right to resist authority plays a pivotal role in shaping such ideas. The ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence further that concept, making it clear that when a government fails to protect the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, the citizens retain the right of revolution. This right is predicated on the principle that governments exist to serve the people, to protect their natural rights and promote the public good.

Historically, this principle has been a driving force behind pivotal moments such as the American Revolution, where the usurpation of rights and a long history of abuses by the British Crown compelled the colonies to seek independence and establish a government more representative of the American people's interests. Similarly, Thomas Paine's The American Crisis underscores the tyranny of the British rule and justifies the revolution as a defense against slavery and injustice by an invading army, highlighting the necessity for change when oppression becomes unbearable.

This philosophy does not suggest anarchy or continuous upheaval but rather a measured response to systematic oppression. It establishes that when fundamental rights are trampled upon by a government, it is not merely the right, but the duty of the people to seek change. Nevertheless, caution is advised against frequent and trivial changes in government, advocating for patience and prudence until such point as revolution becomes an absolute necessity for the security and happiness of the public. The willingness and ability to rebel, as expressed by voices like Jefferson and Paine, is indicative of a society that values liberty and holds its government to account for its actions.