The Declaration of Independence is an important document in the history of America. The paper that declared the American colonies were independent of Britain.
However, did you realize the concepts embedded in the Declaration of Independence were inspired by an individual named John Locke? Here we delve into how John Locke shaped the Declaration of Independence and why his influences were so significant.
Who Was John Locke?
Locke is a renowned English philosopher from as far back as the 1600s. PHILO SOPHERS are humans who wonder What is the right way for people to live together? And which rights do all have anyway? There are many lessons about liberty, government and the rights of people John Locke understood! His ideas were quite novel and divergent a the time and went viral.
What Were John Locke’s Ideas?
The notion of inalienable, or natural rights to which all people are entitled at birth was introduced by John Locke. Those rights are life, liberty and property.
That is where the concept that all men are created equal comes from, and then there scope of human life to be lived i.e. Life Liberty and property. Locke also believed that the most important role of a government is to safeguard these rights.
He believed that: “If the government does not protect your rights then you have to either replace or remove it, and therefore change it into a new one.”
How Did These Ideas Contribute to the Declaration of Independence?
The Declaration of Independence was written by a group of active and influential people who found the ideas of John Locke very important, especially Thomas Jefferson.
Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration was influenced by Locke’s thoughts on natural rights and government. This one, however ironic it may be given that in the Declaration Jefferson argues for “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” to apply only to white men.
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Property which is very similar to Locke. To include such ideals was Jefferson’s way of subtly arguing that the American colonies felt wronged by Britain and should have every right to establish independence.
The right to overthrow the government
Perhaps the most significant of John Locke’s ideas that influenced The Declaration was his argument in which he said individuals are capable of changing their government if it failed to protect the rights they had.
Jefferson was right to assert in the Declaration that when a government becomes destructive, rather than protective of our rights, it is not just our right but also our duty as citizens certainly anyone professing allegiance to this nation and the law concerning its creation to “alter or abolish” such an abusive system.
This led to the American colonies justifying their independence from Britain, believing they were not being protected by the British government.
The Idea of Equality
One of the other important ideas from John Locke that is seen in the Declaration of Independence is his idea of equality. Locke also believed that all men were equal and had no right to govern over other people without their consent.
The Declaration says, “All men are created equal” everyone has the same rights and privileges as each other. The American colonies were proponents of this ideology even as they fought for their freedom and independence.
John Locke on American Government
The impact of John Locke did not end with the Declaration of Independence. One of those ideas would directly influence how the American government was founded.
This philosophy of the government exists to protect citizen rights and if it does not, then citizens have a right to overthrow that government – helped establish democracy as described in the rules of how people could run their own country (United States Constitution).
These are some of the reasons why significance continues to be felt and his thinking still informs much about how Americans view their political heritage.
John Locke’s Ideas Mattered Most
Cliff: Locke’s ideas were so important for the Declaration of Independence because they provided a strong justification that was necessary to convince the American colonies to fight against their English colonial master.
Locke’s theory explained why people have rights and why they should come under a government that shields those rights. The signing of the Declaration, which was based on Locke’s ideas, claimed that to break free from Britain and create a new government one would have their rights protected.
The Perpetuation of John Locke
Locke has achieved a lasting legacy in the United States and beyond by shaping the Declaration of Independence. Many other nations have taken up his concepts of natural rights, equality and the function government should play in leading a country that grants all citizens certain fundamental freedoms. Locke’s beliefs in freedom and justice are still being studied today by supporters worldwide.
The Near Empire NowendforeachToday: How We Read Locke
John Locke has, in more ways than one, shaped much of the world we live in today. This is something that a lot of people believe: That everyone has these rights which we all have to protect.
It is a legacy that lives on in our systems of government where an individual holds the right to cast their vote and hold those leaders accountable, he added. Understanding the concepts suggested by John Locke helps us in perceiving why freedom and equality are necessary.
This is Why John Locke Matters
If you know how and why John Locke inspired the Declaration of Independence, it becomes clear who wanted to be so free from what exactly in America. The kind that makes us truly grateful for the rights and liberties we have now.
In reading these ideas of Locke, we can more fully appreciate how his role has been felt through the generations and why human rights must be guaranteed as universal.
Consequences John Locke Had on the Declaration of Independence
On the surface, it is evident that John Locke had a great deal of influence on what would become The Declaration of Independence. His beliefs in natural rights, government by consent and the fundamental equality of all were critical to inspiring American colonies to declare their independence from Britain.
Some of these are even embedded in the fundamental framework of the United States and still hold to date. Aware of the impact that John Locke had on the Declaration Of Independence, we have a clearer understanding of why our freedoms are in place and how crucial it is for man to protect those rights.