Final answer:
The Declaration of Independence, speech to the Virginia Convention, and Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography each embody Enlightenment ideas, emphasizing natural rights, rational governance, personal improvement and the moral justification for revolution against a government that fails to protect those rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Declaration of Independence, speech to the Virginia Convention, and Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography each reflect the central ideas of the Age of Reason or Enlightenment. This era emphasized natural rights, social contracts, and rational governance. Thomas Jefferson, in drafting the Declaration of Independence, incorporated John Locke's ideas of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as unalienable rights, underscoring the belief that government must be built on the consent of the governed and focus on safeguarding these rights.
Patrick Henry's famous speech to the Virginia Convention ignited the call to arms by appealing to logical arguments and emotional appeals based on Enlightenment principles, emphasizing the importance of liberty and the necessity of fighting for it against an oppressive British rule. The oration encouraged American colonies to see the British government's failure to protect their rights as a reason for revolution.
Similarly, Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography showcased the self-made individual and the pursuit of moral perfection, both key themes of the Enlightenment. It depicted his journey from modest beginnings to a figure of significant social and political standing, illustrating the Enlightenment valorization of reason, education, and scientific inquiry as means to better oneself and society.