Final answer:
Thomas Jefferson was influenced by Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau when writing the Declaration of Independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
In writing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson drew inspiration from Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau. These thinkers emphasized the importance of natural rights and the relationship between citizens and governments. Jefferson incorporated these ideas into the Declaration, proclaiming that all men are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This language became the centerpiece of struggles for civil liberties and rights in the United States. He incorporated their ideas of natural rights and the relationship between citizens and governments into the document.