The Rights of the Colonists

A latent theme in Adams’s essay is inclusion versus exclusion. Where do you see appeals for, or examples of, each of these practices in Adams’s essay? (Hint: To what extent are the colonists included in the British Empire? Where is the exclusion of groups of people justified in Adams’s argument?)

One part of Adams’s essay is concerned with abstract concepts like liberty while another part is concerned with the colonists’ legal standing with the British Empire. What strategies does Adams use to convey his arguments at these two levels of concreteness and abstraction? Do you think he is more persuasive in either the theoretical discussion or the practical discussion? Why?

How would you characterize the tone of Adams’s essay? Does each section have the same tone, or are there differences in different parts of the document? Be sure to identify words that express the tone and reference passages to support your claims.

Like other authors of the era, Adams uses “men” to describe both males and human beings, as in, mankind. Think about the time of this essay. Is the use of the male pronoun significant beyond being the standard shorthand? Would Adams and his fellow male leaders have endorsed this document if it expressly included women?

What role does Christianity play in Adams’s conception of natural law and human society? Would Adams’s ideas apply to societies rooted in other religions?

In 1772, the colonists did not know that they would formally declare independence in a few years and eventually win a war to defend it. Do you think the American Revolution was inevitable by 1772? Think about what you know about Samuel Adams’s creation of the Sons of Liberty and his political activity beyond writing this essay.

Adams’s regular invocation of Enlightenment philosophy reveals how influential the movement was in shaping early American society. Do you recognize elements of Enlightenment thinking in American national identity in the 21st century? What ideals do Americans still uphold? What has changed?

Do Adams’s assertions seem reasonable to you? Why or why not? As you answer this question, keep in mind that reason was a key virtue of the Enlightenment. Did Adams display sound reasoning? (Hint: You will likely want to define “reason” early in your response!)