Name: Grace

Periods: 6-7

Resolved: The American colonists were justified in their rebellion against Great
Britain.
Refutation - Identify and disprove the oppositions main argument(s).
I. Refutation Paragraph
A.Oppositions Point (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, or Jeffersons Argument)
1. People have no right to revolt against the king. (Thomas Hobbes)
B. Your Counter-Point (Refutation)
1. People have the right to revolt against the king because it should be okay to make a statement as long
as it is not harmful to anyone (especially the king) or the law.
C.Example(s) (Historical Evidence)
1. The people have the right to resist and rebel (John Lockes Political Philosophy)
2. They have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish Commerce, and to do
all other acts and things which independent states may of right do (declaration of Independence)
D. Explain
1. To have the right to rebel means having your own opinion to fight for what you want in a respectful
manner. For example, in John Lockes Philosophy he says, the people have the right to resist and
rebel this shows that everybody can have their own thoughts on government and how it is set up.
2. In the Declaration of Independence it states that each citizen has the right to levy war, conclude
peace, contract alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent
states may of right do. This quote means each person has the right to argue and use these rights
towards their disagreement against government.
E. Explore (Analysis)
1. People should be able to argue in a peaceful way as long as it is not harmful or stereotypical. As stated in
the Declaration of Independence people have many rights to be able to voice their opinions. Each citizen

Name: Grace

Periods: 6-7

should use their rights to develop and resolve their issues. People should have the right to live how they
want to live. Also stated in John Lockes philosophy people have the right to rebel and resist. People
can chose whether to make their statement or keep it to them selves. Overall, having rights within a
civilization for the people will keep a sustainable system.