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How the Enlightenment influenced the Declaration of Independence?

How the Enlightenment influenced the Declaration of Independence?

Core Enlightenment ideals used in the Declaration of Independence include the idea that all people are entitled to certain rights just by virtue of being human, the belief that a government’s legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed, and the idea that a government’s main purpose is to protect the rights of the …

How did John Locke influence the declaration?

John Locke In his Second Treatise of Government, Locke identified the basis of a legitimate government. If the government should fail to protect these rights, its citizens would have the right to overthrow that government. This idea deeply influenced Thomas Jefferson as he drafted the Declaration of Independence.

How did the philosophers influence the Declaration of Independence?

Most scholars today believe that Jefferson derived the most famous ideas in the Declaration of Independence from the writings of English philosopher John Locke. Among these fundamental natural rights, Locke said, are “life, liberty, and property.”

What ideas influenced the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson used the thoughts first penned by John Locke while writing the Declaration of Independence. The phrase “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness,” was an idea first considered by Locke in his Two Treatises on Government.

What did the Declaration of Independence influence?

But the Declaration’s influence wasn’t limited to the American colonies of the late 18th century. As the first successful declaration of independence in history, it helped to inspire countless movements for independence, self-determination and revolution after 1776 and to this very day.

How did John Locke influence the declaration of Independence?

Many believe much of the most memorable language of the Declaration of Independence is derived from Locke’s works. The entire Declaration has been said to have “Succeeded admirably in condensing Locke’s fundamental argument into a few hundred words.”

Where did the idea of the declaration of Independence come from?

Jefferson, the main author of the Declaration of Independence, derived the ideas in the Declaration of Independence from the ideas of the Enlightenment – mainly from John Locke’s ideas, to be exact. Ideas like natural rights, social contract, and reason mentioned in the Declaration of Independence were all from the Enlightenment.

What did John Locke say about natural rights?

John Locke, a philosopher at the time who supported the Enlightenment, stated in his book Two Treatises Government, that men were born with natural rights which consisted of “life, liberty, and property” (Locke).

What was the impact of John Locke’s social contract?

John Locke ’s Social Contract sparked new radical ideas of a government “by the people, for the people” that stands to protect the rights of its people. When the …show more content…

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