“The influence of ideas was the most significant factor that led to the US Declaration of Independence.” Discuss.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the role of ideas in bringing about US Independence. Causes of US Independence may predate the timeframe but they must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. Candidates may refer to the influence of the Enlightenment as supporting the existence of certain inalienable rights. Concepts such as freedom, equality before the law or the right to rebel against tyrannous governments were incorporated into the US Declaration of Independence. Candidates may discuss the influence of liberalism and republicanism. Other relevant factors, for example the discontent against British rule based on economic arguments may be referred to, but with a focus on the issue in the question.

The question required candidates to offer a considered and balanced review of the role of ideas in bringing about US independence. Most respondents focused on the Enlightenment, with varying degrees of knowledge, but acknowledged the importance of other factors as well. Thus, many of the responses demonstrated a good breadth of knowledge as to the various ideas that contributed to independence.