Chapter 1: Introduction to limited government and classical theory

Limited Government and Natural Rights
- Based on Enlightenment principles, this theory asserts that individuals possess inherent natural rights such as life, liberty, and property in a "state of nature."
- Social Contract: A foundational agreement where individuals voluntarily surrender certain freedoms to a governing body in exchange for the protection of their remaining rights and general security.
- Right to Revolution: If a government fails to protect these rights or violates the social contract, the people retain the moral authority to overthrow and replace it.
Classical Theory and the British System
- Classical theory views individuals as social beings for whom government is a natural, organic development rather than a calculated contract.
- The British "Mixed" Regime: Designed to combine three forms of rule to prevent any one from becoming corrupt:
- Monarchy: Provides unity and efficiency but can devolve into tyranny.
- Aristocracy: Intended to utilize wise rulers but risks turning into an oppressive oligarchy.
- Democracy: Represents the interests of the many but risks leading to "mob rule" or instability.
- Colonists initially admired this balance until the $1770$s, when they began to see the British system as fundamentally flawed.

Representation Debates
- Virtual Representation: The British argued that the colonists were represented by Parliament because its members acted in the interest of the whole empire, regardless of who voted.
- Geographic Representation: The colonists contended that they could only be taxed by representatives they specifically elected within their own colonies.
- Though fighting began in April $1775$ after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, many remained loyal to the King, hoping for a peaceful resolution.
Role of the Pamphlet War
- Pamphlets were the primary medium for political debate, being inexpensive and widely accessible.
- Often published anonymously to avoid sedition charges, they were crucial in shifting public opinion from seeking reconciliation to demanding total independence.

Impact of Thomas Paine
- Published in January $1776$, "Common Sense" used direct, accessible language—avoiding complex legal Latin—to explain the necessity of revolution.
- It successfully framed the conflict not just as a legal tax dispute, but as a struggle for universal human liberty.
Public Reception
- The pamphlet sold approximately $120,000$ to $150,000$ copies in just $3$ months, a massive reach relative to the $18^{th}$ century population.
- It provided a moral and rational justification for separation that persuaded common citizens and political leaders alike.

Critique of the British Constitution
- Paine argued that "government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil," necessitated by the lack of moral virtue in human nature.
- He attacked the British Constitution for being overly complex, arguing its complexity served only to shield the government from accountability.
A New Democratic Vision
- Paine advocated for a direct democracy for small groups, which would transition into a larger representative government as society grew.
- Frequent Elections: He stressed that for a government to be truly representative, elections must occur frequently to ensure that the representatives' interests remains the same as the people's.
- Equality of Man: He explicitly challenged the hereditary principle of monarchy, declaring that the distinction of "kings and subjects" was artificial