Was the American Revolution a Just War?

I know I have not posted for a couple days; I may or may not post again later today. I plan to continue my series on Inter-Religious Dialogue when I get a chance. I didn’t want to interrupt it. But I decided that July 4th is a special day and as such deserves a special post.

I am not going to make many arguments here. Rather, I want people to answer the question– “Was the American Revolution a Just War?” In doing so, please reflect upon the requirements of just war theory and then show how the American Revolution did or did not fit these requirements.

Now, I am not saying, even if you believe that it was not a just war, that the United States has no right to exist. As Joseph de Maistre points out, most nations have their foundation in injustice, and yet eventually establish themselves as a rightful moral authority. To say “America’s foundation was not justified, therefore it shouldn’t exist” is ultimately an ad homimen; it would fit in with the idea that “John Doe was conceived in rape, and therefore doesn’t have a right to exist”. But the reverse is also true; to say “it exists and has a right to exist” does not mean that its foundation was free from sin.

This is an important issue, and it has many ramifications for the future. For example, if one says that what has happened in Iraq is wrong, that doesn’t mean we can neglect the current situation in Iraq and not help out the government there (however it was put into place); on the other hand, it doesn’t mean we can neglect such a sinful foundation if it is indeed sinful; if sin is at the foundation of any state, then it is something which needs to be worked out and expiated.