Reference no: EM132842136

The road to the American Revolution was long and arduous and the question as to why British citizens living in the colonies decided to take that step is a complex one.

• Thomas Paine wrote his pamphlet "Common Sense" to influence Americans towards independence.
• The Declaration of Independence is the landmark document that announced to the world the British colonies would be free.
• John Locke was one of the great political philosophers in history. His 2nd Treatise of Government is a landmark document in political thinking that challenged the rights of the King in relationship to the people.

Question 1: How did Paine use the concepts of equality, reason, and nature to criticize the legitimacy of monarchical government and British control of the colonies? What arguments does Paine give for independence? Why did he propse that law should be "King of America"?

Question 2: What is the primary complaint listed in the Declaration of Independence? (Do not simply restate the list of grievances.) What is the significance of the Declaration of Independence? Why did the writers of the Declaration focus all the blame on King George rather than Parliament?

Question 3: Did John Locke's 2nd Treatise of Government support the Declaration of Independence? State the reasons for your opinion.