The consent of the governed is an idea born of the enlightenment and the writings of john Locke. This is the idea that a government gains its power via the willingness of the people to support it. The US system expresses this notion by holding elections in which the people (the governed) select their representatives to govern (there by giving consent).
That whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the people to alter or to abolish it.-Apex
john Locke
The social contract
The ideas embodied in the 1776 Declaration of Independence have not been changed. What has been changed are societies and governments seeking to create better societies. One of the beliefs of American abolitionists was that the American Declaration clearly, in their minds, showed Americans that slavery ran counter to the words of the declaration.
According to the Declaration of Independence, governments are created to protect the rights granted to all people, known as unalienable rights. That means they cannot be taken away. Governments get their power from the people they govern. If the government cannot protect the rights of the people or if the government becomes destructive of the rights of the people, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish the government. If a government has been in operation for a long time, the Declaration indicates that peaceful means should be attempted to solve the problems, via the ballot box, laws, etc. However, if the government has become dictatorial or a unconstitutional monarchy then violent revolution may be the only course for the people.
That whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the people to alter or to abolish it.-Apex
John Locke.
john Locke
John Locke.
john Locke
The social contract
In the Declaration of Independence, the author clearly warns people not to tolerate repeated injustices and oppression from a governing body. He emphasizes that it is not only their right but also their duty to overthrow such a government when it becomes destructive to their fundamental rights. The warning is against complacency in the face of tyranny, advocating for active resistance to ensure liberty and justice.
The words Jefferson wrote show that his thinking was greatly influenced by john Locke. In fact, a passage in the second paragraph of the Declaration clearly was inspired by Locke's ideas about natural rights in Two Treatises of Government.
The passage that most clearly reflects the Enlightenment principle of addressing a broken social contract is where Thomas Jefferson asserts that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed and that it is the right of the people to alter or abolish any government that becomes destructive to these ends. This idea emphasizes the belief that individuals have the authority to challenge and change their government if it fails to protect their rights, a core tenet of Enlightenment thought. It underscores the notion that government must serve the people, and when it fails to do so, the social contract is considered violated.
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limited government
The Enlightenment principle most clearly reflected in the Declaration of Independence is the concept of natural rights, particularly the idea that individuals possess inherent rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This principle, championed by philosophers like John Locke, emphasizes that governments are formed to protect these rights and that any government that fails to do so can be justly overthrown. The Declaration asserts that these rights are self-evident and universal, underscoring the Enlightenment belief in individualism and the social contract.