Question

When the American colonists declared independence in 1776, what principle did they argue that Britain had violated?

O Legally binding
• Magna Carta
O Precedent decision
• Social contract

Answer 1

The American colonists claimed that Britain had violated the social contract principle by failing to protect their rights and by taxing them without representation.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the American colonists declared independence in 1776, they argued that Britain had violated the principle of the social contract. The social contract theory, espoused by Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke, posits that governments derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed and must protect the natural rights of citizens, which include life, liberty, and property. By imposing taxes without representation, and refusing to adhere to principles of due process as outlined in historical documents like the Magna Carta, the British Crown was seen as having broken the social contract, leading the colonists to declare their right to form a new government.