Summarize how the Declaration of Independence embodies social contract theory in action.
a The Declaration of Independence lists the how the monarchy protected the people.
b The Declaration of Independence was the first U.S. Constitution.
c The Declaration of Independence lists all of the ways that the colonists felt their liberties had been violated by the king.
d The Declaration of Independence describes how the United States government is arranged.
c The Declaration of Independence lists all of the ways that the colonists felt their liberties had been violated by the king.
c The Declaration of Independence lists all of the ways that the colonists felt their liberties had been violated by the king.
The correct answer is c. The Declaration of Independence lists all of the ways that the colonists felt their liberties had been violated by the king.
To determine the correct answer, we need to understand what social contract theory is and how it is reflected in the Declaration of Independence.
Social contract theory is a political theory that suggests that individuals enter into an agreement with their government. According to this theory, individuals willingly give up some of their freedoms and rights in exchange for the government's protection and the assurance of their fundamental rights.
In the Declaration of Independence, the colonists expressed their grievances against the king of England, whom they believed had violated their natural rights. They listed specific instances where the king had trampled on their liberties and failed to fulfill his obligations as their ruler. These violations included imposing unjust taxes, interfering with local government, denying trial by jury, and maintaining a standing army without consent.
By highlighting these grievances, the colonists were essentially saying that the king had breached the social contract between the government and the people. They believed that their natural rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were being violated, and as a result, they felt justified in declaring their independence from British rule.
Therefore, the Declaration of Independence embodies social contract theory in action by illustrating how the colonists believed their liberties had been violated by the king, thereby justifying their decision to break away and form a new government that would respect their rights.