Question

Whose Enlightenment principles did Thomas Jefferson build upon when he drafted the Declaration of Independence? A. John Locke B. King George III C. John Adams D. George Washington

Answer 1

The correct answer is A) John Locke.

Thomas Jefferson built upon Enlightenment principles from John Locke, when he drafted the Declaration of Independence.

When drafting the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson took some ideas of the brilliant Philosopher John Locke, one of the most prominent thinkers of the Enlightenment period. For instance, the idea of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” was an original thought of Locke that was established in his famous work called “Two Treatises on Government”.

Answer 2

It was the Enlightenment principles of "A. John Locke" that Thomas Jefferson build upon when he drafted the Declaration of Independence. He had read these works at a very young age.