After the First Continental Congress Passed a Boycott on British

question 35

Essay

After the First Continental Congress passed a boycott on British goods, they declared that in every county and city, a committee was to be formed whose mission was to spy on the conduct of friends and neighbors and to report to the press any violators of the trade ban.  Is this a reflection of American values?  Is the use of these tactics legitimate when used by the government?  Why or why not?

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Definitions:

Deterministic

The philosophical view that all events, including moral choices, are completely determined by previously existing causes, often used in the context of free will debates.

Infants

Refers to very young children or babies, typically those under one year of age.

Functionally Autonomous Motives

Motives that originate from an earlier cause but continue to motivate behavior even when that original cause is no longer relevant.

Study of Values

A branch of knowledge that investigates the principles, standards, and what individuals or societies deem important in life.