The Halifax Resolves framed independence in Lockean rights language

Evidence

As if to explain the action in Lockean terms of protecting life, liberty, and property, the Halifax Resolves leveled four accusations against the British government in America. First, the Resolves declared, “The King and Parliament of Great Britain have usurped a Power over the person and properties of the People, unlimited and uncontrouled.” Second, they charged “That British Fleets and Armies have been, and still are, daily employed in destroying the People, and committing the most horrid devastations on the country.” Third, the Resolves added that some royal governors “have declared protection to slaves, who should imbrue their hands in the blood of their [patriot] masters.” Finally, they asserted that Britain had made American ships “prizes of war and many of them have been violently seized and confiscated.” Named or implied, Norfolk, Dunmore, Martin, the Declaratory Act, and the American Prohibitory Act figured as justification for independence. — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 138

Categorization

• XREF: Shows how founders articulated life, liberty, property grievances in quasi-Lockean terms — the exact first-principles framing the course wants to trace into the Declaration. — connects to: Virginia’s Declaration of Rights grounded revolution in popular sovereignty and natural rights. — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 198
• QUESTION: Worth noting: the Lockean frame includes slave revolts as a grievance against governors ‘protecting slaves’ — useful for teaching how equality and property claims conflicted even in this founding text.