A Summary View of the Rights of British America

"A Summary View of the Rights of British America" is a tract written in 1774 by Thomas Jefferson for the delegates of Virginia to the Continental Congress. Essentially a list of grievances against the British monarch, it claims that the colonies should not owe the British Empire any taxes or allegiance. The colonies are fully capable of ruling themselves, and individuals should be able to create their own autonomous government.

"A Summary View of the Rights of British America" proved prophetic, as it outlined the ideas that would be enshrined and fought for nearly two years later in the American Revolutionary War for independence from Great Britain. It provided unifying principles for the immigrants that composed the original thirteen colonies and positioned Jefferson as an up-and-coming political force. The delegation ultimately opted for a more moderate version of the policies outlined by Jefferson, but friends of Jefferson printed copies of the tract and handed them out as pamphlets. As Jefferson's first state paper, it provided the precedent for his later writing of the "Declaration of Independence" in 1776.

Thomas Jefferson and A Summary View of the Rights of British America

Thomas Jefferson is revered as a founding father, renaissance man, and statesman. He is responsible for many pivotal, influential concepts and principles that would shape the early government of the United States. A champion of individual liberty and the pursuit of happiness, Jefferson was the principal architect of the "Declaration of Independence." Many of the ideals enshrined in that document came from "A Summary View of the Rights of British America," which Thomas Jefferson wrote when he was only 31 years old.

Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743. His father was self-educated and insisted on Thomas receiving a formal education. He would begin his education at age five and continue to have a variety of teachers. Attending college in Williamsburg, Virginia gave Jefferson access to many influential and important people. Jefferson was exposed to the idea that people could and should be governed by their own reasoning, rather than by a monarch who received their power through hereditary tradition.

Fig. 1 - Thomas Jefferson's Presidential portrait after spending most of his life in politics at the state and local levels, and well after writing "A Summary View on the Rights of British America".

Through his studies of law and the Enlightenment thinkers, Jefferson would go on the shape the foundation of American Democracy and the American concept of freedom. "A Summary View of the Rights of British America" would be Jefferson's first foray into the world of national politics of the thirteen colonies.

A Summary View of the Rights of British America Explained

Thomas Jefferson was active in local politics. He represented his county in the House of Burgess, Virginia's legislature. His position in local politics would expose him to national issues that inspired him to write "A Summary View of the Rights of British America."

Once, Patrick Henry, a Burgess from another Virginia county, gave a passionate protest speech against British control. Patrick Henry echoed the sentiments of many colonists. This would be the beginning of Jefferson's education on national politics.

Fig. 2 - The British Empire was the largest in the world at its peak, and it required a lot of money to support its maintenance and expansion.

Many colonists felt completely unrepresented and disconnected from a distant ruling monarchy across the vast ocean. Great Britain had also placed a disproportionate financial tax on the colonies to help pay for their expanding empire and wars.

As a burgess, Jefferson witnessed firsthand the tightening power of the British Crown. Royal governors rarely intervened in legislation proposed by colonists. By the time of the Boston Tea party, Royal governors had been overturning more colonist legislation in the past couple of years than in the previous several decades.

These events inspired Jefferson to compile "A Summary View of the Rights of British America"—his first significant state paper—to address the delegates at the First Continental Congress. He sent the manuscript to Williamsburg where copies were made and handed out by friends. At the Virginia House of Burgess, they would read the tract aloud to the congregation. Ultimately, the First Continental Congress only partially adopted some of the policies suggested in the tract.

Thomas Jefferson's Claims in A Summary View of the Rights of British America

Essentially a list of grievances against the British, Thomas Jefferson argues that the colonies should not owe the British Crown any taxes without representatives in British Parliament. Jefferson uses this basis for the claim of conditional loyalty to the British Crown.¹ If the British Parliament cannot respect the wishes of the colonists, then the colonists have no reason to maintain allegiance to them.

For Jefferson, the colonies were fully capable of ruling themselves. He believed, by right, individuals should be able to create their own autonomous government. Furthermore, any decision made by a third party that affects an individual without their prior consent is an infringement on their personal liberty.

Analysis of A Summary View of the Rights of British America

Thomas Jefferson merged the political and intellectual in "A Summary View of the Rights of British America," which placed the document within a unique philosophical framework. This was the beginning of the formation of the American concept of "freedom" through personal liberty and the pursuit of a life of their own choosing.

The Jefferson estate amassed its wealth within a couple of generations. Jefferson wanted to extend the same possibilities of success to other colonists. He was well aware of the wealth that supported him, and he strove to create a more equitable society where everyone had a chance at similar opportunities. However, the colonial identity was not a unified one. He sought to highlight to his countrymen one thing they all had in common: they are all unfairly subordinated by British King George III without their consent.

Fig. 3 - Thomas Jefferson paid for his Monticello estate with the wealth accumulated from previous generations of his family.

Jefferson also feared the consolidated power of landed gentry and aristocrats who were loyal to the British Crown. He saw the power in aligning colonial interest, whether rich or poor, in rebelling against the crown in order to gain more local autonomy. Since he was opposed to a monarchy, he was naturally inclined to advocate for a limited central government, with primacy placed on the ability of individuals and their local municipalities in governing themselves.

While Thomas Jefferson wrote "A Summary View of the Rights of British America" for the delegates at the First Continental Congress, he also hoped that it could reach colonists in general. Congress opted for a more moderate version of the policies outlined by Jefferson, removing criticisms they deemed too insulting to King George III and passages Jefferson wrote against the institution of slavery.

Many friends of Jefferson greatly admired his work, printed copies of the tract, and handed them out in pamphlet form.

Quotes From A Summary View of the Rights of British America

Below are some important quotes for you to memorize!

Jefferson believed that good government operates with transparency. If it supports and defends the rights of individuals, it will promote trust among its constituents and further strengthen the foundation of properly functioning governance.

Jefferson would emphasize this as the basis of the self-determination of the American people against the British Crown. It was individual colonists who took the risk and staked a claim in a land mysterious to them. The total risk of the endeavor fell on the shoulders of the American people. Yet, they were expected to follow the whims of a monarch thousands of miles away. To Jefferson, this was an infringement not only of personal liberty but a lack of acknowledgment of the hard work of Americans. The British Crown only began to take a deeper interest in the colonies once they became firmly established and prosperous.

At its core, "A Summary View of the Rights of British America" is a compilation of complaints against recent actions taken by the British Crown. Here, Jefferson refers to the systematic erosion of local power and the infringement on individual liberty he witnessed while holding public office in Virginia. Over time, he saw the increase in severity and occurrence of measures taken against the American public to the benefit of the British Crown.