Question

English philosopher John Locke wrote that government should protect “life, liberty, and estate. How do you think Locke’s writing influenced ideas about government put forth in the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 1

John Locke's philosophy of government as a protector of individual rights, such as life, liberty, and property, directly influenced the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson incorporated Locke's ideas of social contract and popular sovereignty to justify American independence and later to help frame the U.S. Constitution.

Step-by-step explanation:

John Locke's writings on individual rights and the purpose of government heavily influenced Thomas Jefferson's drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Locke's Second Treatise of Government proposed that government is a social contract to protect life, liberty, and property. This thinking was revolutionary at the time, rejecting the divine right of kings and advocating for a government based on popular sovereignty. In the Declaration, Jefferson echoed Locke's philosophy, emphasizing the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, affirming that governments are instituted to secure these rights, deriving their powers from the consent of the governed.

When Jefferson drafted the Declaration, he adapted Locke's concept of 'estate' or 'property' to 'the pursuit of happiness,' underscoring the foundational American belief in personal freedom and fulfillment. Moreover, Locke's belief in the right of people to overthrow a government that fails to protect these rights justified the colonists' rebellion against British rule. His ideas of separation of powers and checks and balances also laid the groundwork for constitutional provisions, fostering principles of democracy that shaped the U.S. Constitution.

Answer 2

John Locke was England's 17th-century philosopher and physician. He was regarded as the Father of Liberalism. His three natural rights Life, liberty and land contributed to the United States Declaration of Independence. According to John Locke’s theory, he believes that human nature is characterized by reason and tolerance. He also said that all humans are equal in God's eye irrespective of your culture, tradition, tribe, religion, and color and also people should have the right to be free to choose.