Before the full onset of the American Revolution, many theories and ideals regarding political philosophy began to emerge, centered on presenting new ideas of republicanism to government , as well as ushering in a new wave of nationalism. Forcefully introduced by philosophical leaders such as John Locke, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Paine, the ideas espoused by these individuals became the spark for the American Revolution and eventually evolved into cornerstones of American ideology and political systems. As these ideals became a rallying cry for independence from royal authority, colonists began to defend their rights against oppressive rule, demanding that they be granted equality in representation and not be used for the benefit of Great Britain. In order to intrinsically understand how the ideas of republicanism and nationalism influenced the mentalities and institutions of the pre- and post-Revolutionary War landscape, it is necessary to analyze each of the above-mentioned thought leaders in terms of the specific components they promoted and how this ultimately played in the development of many organizational and institutional aspects of the newly independent colonies. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Analyzing the ideas inherent in republicanism and American nationalism in the pre-Revolutionary era, it was evident that the constant pressure and oppression of the British Government led to the strong adoption and implementation of the ideals. A major influencer of these ideals was the philosopher John Locke, who initially proposed the idea of ​​establishing a representative republic among an independent population. Simply put, Locke's ideas revolve around "democracy, limited government, republicanism, self-determination, the rule of law, equal opportunity, and free expression." (Tierney, 2011) As these values ​​were widely implemented and adopted by colonial society, it became clear to Americans that they were not being provided with any of these basic liberal ideals. Rather, it was evident that Britain was depriving the colonists of many of their inherent freedoms, especially regarding equal opportunity, self-determination and the rule of law. This was seen in the series of acts and decrees that the British crown attempted to impose against the colonists to maximize financial benefits and be able to get out of the indebted and distressed position they found themselves in. An example of these actions implemented was seen in the Stamp and Townshend Acts before the revolution, which impacted the core of colonial society. Perhaps the most infamous of the two became the latter, which focused on reaping benefits from goods and raw materials imported into North America. Thus, “in 1767, Parliament passed the Townshend duties, a new series of external taxes levied on goods before they entered colonial markets, and ushered in more stringent enforcement policies. Americans have reaffirmed their opposition to any taxation without representation." (Ch. 6) This, along with the Stamp Act which increased the prices of domestic goods in the colonies, laid the foundation for the nationalist ideals that began to emerge. With Locke's ideas becoming a cornerstone of Americans' beliefs and rallying cries, these restrictive and oppressive measures adopted by the British crown further fueled American opposition in demanding their equality, no matter what the cost. Nationalism began to spread throughout the American colonies, as it cansee in the diffusion of ideas through documents and news. Whether through newspaper publications, published pamphlets on governmental aspects, and a variety of other means, the colonists began to educate themselves about the rights and liberties that were to be ascribed to them. One of the most influential individuals in promoting this fervor was Thomas Paine. A citizen of Great Britain, and later embarking for the American colonies, Paine became an important foundation in promoting independence and equality, as well as a critic of the British crown in the means by which it governed the colonies. Thus, “while colonial resentments were originally directed primarily against the king's ministers and Parliament, Paine firmly places responsibility on the king. And it appeals to the widespread sense among Americans that they have all the resources, and all the pretensions, to govern themselves without the interference and control of a body on the other side of the world. Subverting paternalist metaphors for Britain's colonial claims, Paine creates the image of a nation come of age, ready for freedom from its leaders, with every justification for separation from its unnatural parent, and seeking to stand on its own as a republic commercial, trading in his own right." (Stanford.edu) In this regard, Paine became one of the prime sparks behind organizing and promoting opposition to the British royal family, as he placed direct blame on the king himself and also aimed to show the American public that the time had come to defend their rights. His most widely read and widespread pamphlets, entitled Rights of Man, became a cornerstone for the development throughout the American colonies of the ideals according to which. they had the ability and power to resist the oppressors that were on the other side of the Atlantic. These beliefs stemmed directly from many republican and nationalist thought processes, as there was a growing influence on creating a government that was representative of theirs. interests, instead of providing to a regime that had none of their interests in mind. Thomas Paine believed that although the American colonists believed that the path forward to establishing a government would be arduous and difficult, that with the right organizational structures and the right plan of action, it would be much more achievable than originally perceived. He believed that a necessary aspect to implement was that of the Continental Congress, which would provide a framework and body of documentation directly linked to how the country would be governed. By bringing out the most qualified and representatively popular individuals in the nation, it would ensure that the components of the documents that would be presented to the Continental Congress exuded the best interests of those who lived in the colonies, rather than catering to the needs of those who lived in the colonies. As the concepts of republicanism and many of Locke's ideals began to be echoed throughout the campaigns, influencing the imminent rebellion to come, domestic leaders engaged in organizational components to ensure that these values ​​remained intact as the nation progressed. Perhaps one of the most obvious ways this was seen included Thomas Jefferson's drafts and revisions of the Declaration of Independence, as he aimed to implement the ideas of republicanism, equal opportunity, and other similar components into the frameworks upon which the country was founded . would operate in the post-revolutionary era. The Declaration of Independence, therefore, was not only significant in steering the country in the right direction, but also in shedding light on the liberal and democratic ideals that would be adopted. Just one example of how republicanism.