In 1776, one important reason independence was desirable was that colonists no longer had confidence that which government would protect their liberties?

In 1776, one important reason independence was desirable was that colonists no longer had confidence that which government would protect their liberties?

• A. No longer had confidence that the British government would protect their liberties
• B. Could no longer afford the price of British exports
• C. Had come to reject the philosophy of John Locke
• D. Had come to reject British ideas of individual rights

Answer: (A)

A fundamental idea is that governments exist to protect people’s liberties, and when that protection is clearly eroded, seeking a new political arrangement becomes appealing. By 1776, many colonists believed the British government would not safeguard their rights as English subjects—especially after measures that taxed them without representation and curtailed colonial self-government. That sense of losing confidence in British authority to defend liberties made independence seem like the best path to preserve their rights. Economic concerns or rejecting Locke’s ideas aren’t the driving force here. The price of exports wasn’t about rights protection, and the colonists actually drew on Lockean thought about natural rights to justify self-government, not reject British ideas of rights.

A fundamental idea is that governments exist to protect people’s liberties, and when that protection is clearly eroded, seeking a new political arrangement becomes appealing. By 1776, many colonists believed the British government would not safeguard their rights as English subjects—especially after measures that taxed them without representation and curtailed colonial self-government. That sense of losing confidence in British authority to defend liberties made independence seem like the best path to preserve their rights.

Economic concerns or rejecting Locke’s ideas aren’t the driving force here. The price of exports wasn’t about rights protection, and the colonists actually drew on Lockean thought about natural rights to justify self-government, not reject British ideas of rights.