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Locke also wrote that government exists to defend our natural rights, and when government fails to do so then it may rightfully be overthrown. Locke built on the concept of a “social contract” first proposed by [[Thomas Hobbes]] (1588-1679), who felt that government was a contract by which people gave up some rights to government to obtain protection and order in return. When this social contract is violated by government, as when it fails to defend our natural rights, then Locke felt that rejecting the authority of government was justified. This logic was embraced by the Declaration of Independence by declaring that the colonies were right to break away from the King of England because he failed to uphold the social contract. The Declaration said: “That to secure these [inalienable] rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,—That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government ….” And the Patriots did “abolish” English rule here.

Locke also wrote that government exists to defend our natural rights, and when government fails to do so then it may rightfully be overthrown. Locke built on the concept of a “social contract” first proposed by [[Thomas Hobbes]] (1588-1679), who felt that government was a contract by which people gave up some rights to government to obtain protection and order in return. When this social contract is violated by government, as when it fails to defend our natural rights, then Locke felt that rejecting the authority of government was justified. This logic was embraced by the Declaration of Independence by declaring that the colonies were right to break away from the King of England because he failed to uphold the social contract. The Declaration said: “That to secure these [inalienable] rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,—That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government ….” And the Patriots did “abolish” English rule here.

The culmination of the Revolution was the [[Battle of Yorktown]], which pitted the American army, under the command of General [[George Washington]], along with the French, under the command of General [[Comte de Rochambeau]], against the British, under the command of  General [[Charles Cornwallis]].  Due to a French Naval blockade, Cornwallis was unable to receive the reinforcements and supplies he needed, surrendered along with 7,000 troops on October 19, 1971.

The culmination of the Revolution was the [[Battle of Yorktown]], which pitted the American army, under the command of General [[George Washington]], along with the French, under the command of General [[Comte de Rochambeau]], against the British, under the command of  General [[Charles Cornwallis]].  Due to a French Naval blockade, Cornwallis was unable to receive the reinforcements and supplies he needed and surrendered along with 7,000 troops on October 19, 1971.

The war concluded with the signing of the [[Treaty of Paris]] in 1783, granting independence to the colonies.

The war concluded with the signing of the [[Treaty of Paris]] in 1783, granting independence to the colonies.