Thomas Jefferson was heavily influenced by john Locke's "Two Treatises of Civil Government" when drafting the Declaration of Independence. Locke's ideas about natural rights, particularly the rights to life, liberty, and property, resonated with Jefferson, who adapted them to express the unalienable rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Additionally, Locke's social contract theory informed Jefferson's arguments about government deriving its authority from the consent of the governed. These principles were foundational in justifying the colonies' separation from British rule.
tHE DECLARATION WAS MADE BY ONE PERSON AND THE TRIETIES WERE MADE BY A FMAILY OF PEOPLES. AND THERE WERE TO TREATS AND ONE DOCUMENT OF INDEPENDENCE
Locke had the greatest direct influence. For example, Jefferson adapted the phrase 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness' from Locke's 'Two Treatises on Government.' Montesquieu's book 'The Spirit of the Laws' had more influence on the U.S. constitution, because it described the checks and balances of having three branches of government.
The second sentence of the US Declaration of independence states:We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.It derives from John Locke's Two Treatises on Government which argued that political society existed for the sake of protecting "property", which he defined as a person's "life, liberty, and estate".Jefferson replaced "estate" with "the pursuit of happiness", which is quite a different concept that "estate" or "property".
John Locke said that every man is entitled to life, liberty, and property, but then Thomas Jefferson changed it to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. By "property" Locke meant more than land and goods that could be sold, given away, or even confiscated by the government under certain circumstances. Property also referred to ownership of ones self, which included a right to personal well being. Jefferson, however, substituted the phrase as, " pursuit of happiness," which Locke and others had used to describe freedom of opportunity as well as the duty to help those in want.
John Locke was a philosopher during the Age of Enlightenment. His ideals that all men have the right to life liberty, and property inspired Thomas Jefferson as he was authoring the Declaration of Independence.
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 DECLARATION WAS MADE BY ONE PERSON AND THE TRIETIES WERE MADE BY A FMAILY OF PEOPLES. AND THERE WERE TO TREATS AND ONE DOCUMENT OF INDEPENDENCE
John Locke was a huge influence on all of Thomas Jefferson's philosophical thoughts and ideals. If you research anything on Locke, you can see where many of Jefferson's ideas and such came from. For example, Jefferson paraphrases Locke's ideas in the Declaration of Independence, changing "life, liberty, and property" to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Locke's "Two Treatises of Government" is very significant.
Locke had the greatest direct influence. For example, Jefferson adapted the phrase 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness' from Locke's 'Two Treatises on Government.' Montesquieu's book 'The Spirit of the Laws' had more influence on the U.S. constitution, because it described the checks and balances of having three branches of government.
Revolution Against Tranny In his two "Treatises on Government," John Locke justified the Glorious Revolution of 1688 that drove James II from the British throne. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson justified the American Revolution against George III and the British government. Both men said that people have a natural right to revolt against a tyrannical government.
John Locke's book "Two Treatises of Government" was not banned. It was a key work in the development of political philosophy and had significant influence on the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
The two treatises of government written by John Locke are "Two Treatises of Government."
John Locke probably had the biggest influence on the Declaration. In his book, Two Treatises on Government, he said that the three basic rights of man were life, freedom, and property. Thomas Jefferson adjusted this slightly into the famous statement, "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."
Two Treatises of Government was created in 1689.
The second sentence of the US Declaration of independence states:We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.It derives from John Locke's Two Treatises on Government which argued that political society existed for the sake of protecting "property", which he defined as a person's "life, liberty, and estate".Jefferson replaced "estate" with "the pursuit of happiness", which is quite a different concept that "estate" or "property".
John Locke would likely appreciate how Thomas Jefferson draws upon his ideas in the Declaration of Independence, particularly the emphasis on natural rights and the social contract. Jefferson's assertion that all men are created equal and possess unalienable rights aligns closely with Locke's philosophy on individual liberty and government by consent. Additionally, Jefferson's call for the right to revolt against oppressive governments mirrors Locke's views on the legitimacy of resistance when rights are infringed. Overall, Locke would see Jefferson's work as a practical application of his political theories.
John Locke said that every man is entitled to life, liberty, and property, but then Thomas Jefferson changed it to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. By "property" Locke meant more than land and goods that could be sold, given away, or even confiscated by the government under certain circumstances. Property also referred to ownership of ones self, which included a right to personal well being. Jefferson, however, substituted the phrase as, " pursuit of happiness," which Locke and others had used to describe freedom of opportunity as well as the duty to help those in want.