Final answer:
Jefferson's drafting of the Declaration of Independence effectively persuades that the American Revolution was justified. Citing Enlightenment principles and a series of grievances against British rule, he lays out the case for the colonies' right to establish a new government based on the consent of the governed and the protection of natural rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thomas Jefferson, in drafting the Declaration of Independence, does indeed succeed in presenting a persuasive argument for the American colonies' separation from Great Britain. The document justifies the American Revolution by enumerating various grievances against King George III, which include the imposition of taxes without consent, interference in trade, denial of trial by jury, and depriving colonists of self-government. Jefferson asserted that the people had a right to overthrow a government that failed to protect their unalienable rights, among which he listed life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
The Enlightenment philosophies, which greatly influenced Jefferson and other revolutionary thinkers like Benjamin Franklin, provided the moral reasoning for declaring independence. The idea that humanity's natural rights are undeniable resonated with the revolutionary spirit. The common belief among the Patriots was that they had the right to determine their loyalties and government form, echoing Enlightenment principles of self-determination and governance based on the consent of the governed.
Despite efforts to avoid military conflict and use economic pressure to address issues with Britain and France, it became evident that the British government was not interested in considering the American colonists' rights. Actions by the British, including those leading up to the confrontations at Lexington and Concord where farmers and shopkeepers fought against a professional army, culminated in the sentiment that independence was necessary. Ultimately, the Declaration marked the colonists' commitment to forming a new kind of government, one based on these Enlightenment ideals.