Question

Imagine that you are Thomas Jefferson. You receive a letter from someone living in the colonies who does not understand what natural rights are, or how the King of England has violated them.
1. Write a letter back to the colonist explaining what natural rights are. Include
examples.

2. Describe the two grievances that you have against the King of England and how the King has violated the natural rights of the colonists. Your letter should
convince this colonist that independence is the best option for the colonies.

Note: Please be sure that your response is in the form of a letter, is at least 2
paragraphs in length (5–6 sentences per paragraph), and includes information that you have gathered in days 1 and 2 of this assignment.

Answer 1

Dear Colonist:

It is my pleasure to address this topic as the King of England has violated our natural rights and we shall join forces to strive for our lives. I shall begin by defining “Natural Rights.” The term has first conveyed by John Locke and Greek scholars who define Natural Rights as Divine given privileges.  

Creation has provided natural beings, not only humans, with rights. We have been bestowed with innate privileges by our Creator and those liberties cannot depend on the laws or customs of any particular culture or government and as such, they ought to be universal and inalienable which means that they cannot be restrained by human laws. Natural laws differ from legal laws in that the latter have been granted by a given legal system thus can be modified by humans. Some examples of Natural Rights are: 1. The right of property; 2. The right to be treated fairly regardless of religion, ethnic background or, gender; 3. The right to life; 4. The right to liberty; 5. The right to the pursuit of happiness;  6. The right to defend oneself; 7. The right to an opinion. Liberty is crucial for all the others depend upon it.

We English citizens proclaim that King George III has disregarded our Natural Rights as he has control over the judges preventing colonists that are arrested from having fair trials thus neglecting our right to be treated fairly. Colonists are being forced to house soldiers in transgression of their right of liberty. Colonists have to pay high and unfair taxes without the liberty to be represented in parliament and give an opinion. High taxes hinder our right of property and pursue of happiness.

I urge you to join our forces as we all strive for our innate rights to be preserved.

Yours truly

Thomas Jefferson