Question

When a long train of abuses and usurpitations... evinces a design to reduce them [the colonists] under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security,” - Declaration of Independence. Under what principle of government do the people have the duty described in this quote

Answer 1

According to John Locke, in his Second Treatise on Civil Government, the people has the right to overthrow a tyrant, defined here as "the exercise of power beyond right." This is termed "the right of revolution." This is viewed as necessary in the creation and maintenance of a "just civil society." This is viewed as a right or duty of the people to accomplish this goal.