Sovereignty

Definition

Sovereignty refers to the supreme power and authority of a state or political entity to govern itself and make decisions independently, without external interference or control. It is a fundamental concept in political theory and international relations, defining the autonomy and self-determination of a nation or a people.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Sovereignty is a key concept in the development of the modern nation-state system, where each state claims exclusive authority over its territory and population.
2. The principle of sovereignty was central to the American colonists' grievances against the British during the American Revolution, as they sought to assert their right to self-governance.
3. The First Continental Congress in 1774 was a pivotal moment in the American colonies' assertion of their sovereignty and independence from Great Britain.
4. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 and subsequent policies of the U.S. government challenged the sovereignty of Native American tribes, leading to the forced relocation of many indigenous peoples.
5. Debates over the nature and limits of state sovereignty continue to shape international relations and the global political order.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of sovereignty was central to the American colonists' grievances against the British during the American Revolution.
  • The American colonists' growing sense of sovereignty and the right to self-governance was a key driver of the American Revolution. They resented the British government's attempts to exert control over the colonies without their consent, such as imposing taxes and policies without colonial representation. The colonists argued that as free Englishmen, they had the inherent right to make decisions about their own affairs, which the British were violating. This clash over the limits of British authority and the colonies' claim to sovereignty was a major factor in the colonists' decision to break away and declare independence.
• Analyze how the principle of sovereignty shaped the actions and goals of the First Continental Congress in 1774.
  • The First Continental Congress in 1774 was a pivotal moment in the American colonies' assertion of their sovereignty and independence from Great Britain. The delegates to the Congress sought to coordinate a unified colonial response to British policies that they saw as infringing on their rights as free, self-governing peoples. They issued declarations and resolutions affirming the colonies' right to make their own decisions without interference from the British Parliament or Crown. The Congress also organized boycotts and other forms of non-violent resistance, demonstrating the colonies' determination to exercise their sovereign authority and resist what they viewed as unjust British rule.
• Evaluate how the U.S. government's policies of Indian Removal challenged the sovereignty of Native American tribes in the 19th century.
  • The Indian Removal Act of 1830 and subsequent U.S. government policies of forcibly relocating Native American tribes to designated 'Indian Territory' west of the Mississippi River represented a direct assault on the sovereignty of indigenous peoples. These actions violated pre-existing treaties that had recognized the tribes' right to self-governance and control over their ancestral lands. The forced removal of tribes like the Cherokee, Muscogee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole, known as the Trail of Tears, was an attempt by the U.S. to consolidate its own territorial sovereignty and political control over lands it claimed for white settlement, at the expense of Native American sovereignty and autonomy. This clash over competing claims to sovereignty was a major factor in the often violent conflicts between the U.S. government and Native American tribes in the 19th century.

Related terms

Autonomy: The ability of a state or political entity to make its own decisions and govern itself without outside interference or control.

Self-Determination: The right of a people or a nation to decide their own political, economic, and social future without coercion from external forces.

Territorial Integrity: The principle that a state's borders and territory should be respected and not violated by other states or external actors.