Question

after describing british despotism, or the abuse of the colonists’ rights, thomas jefferson concludes his argument. read the highlighted paragraph. then answer the question below. preamble glossary prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience has shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. but when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, demonstrates a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. such has been the patient suffering of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. the in this paragraph, jefferson makes a claim about what the colonies should do in response to britain’s abuses. which line summarizes his claim? “...it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.” “...a long train of abuses and usurpations...demonstrates a design to reduce them under absolute despotism...” “prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes...”

Explanation:

The question asks for the line that summarizes Jefferson's claim about what the colonies should do. The first line states the colonies' right and duty to overthrow the abusive government and secure their future, which directly outlines the action he argues for. The other lines either set up context about not changing governments lightly or explain the condition for action, not the action itself.

Answer:

". . .it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security."