The Enlightenment and Revolutions Primary and Secondary Sources

How does the listing of grievances against the king point to the colonists' basic understanding about their relationship to the king as British citizens?

The colonists thought the king didn't think of them as true British citizens.

Assess the reasons the colonists gave for declaring independence in terms of their understanding of proper government.

They were feeling oppressed because Britain was taxing them.

In the listing of grievances, which issues were likely to be most central to the colonists' discontent with the king?

How bad the taxes were.

List the natural rights identified in the Declaration of Independence.

Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, taxation without representation.

Present an argument supporting or rejecting the idea that the American Revolution would not have occurred if the colonies had been held by a European power other than Great Britain.

Other parts of Europe had a system of rights.

Which phrases reflect John Locke's philosophy?

Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. Decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.