Final answer:
The Declaration of Independence's ideas were mainly influenced by the social contract theory of Enlightenment thinkers, especially John Locke and Montesquieu. Locke's concepts of natural rights laid the groundwork for the declaration, emphasizing individual rights and government by consent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ideas contained in the Declaration of Independence were most influenced by the social contract theory as practised by Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu. The Enlightenment ideas of natural rights and a government's responsibility to its people played a significant role in shaping the American political thought which led to the declaration of independence from Britain.
John Locke's ideas of individual rights and government by consent were key tenets that influenced the decision to declare independence. He proposed that people have the right to change a government that does not protect these natural rights. These principles were echoed in the American colonies and ultimately expressed through the Declaration of Independence, wherein Thomas Jefferson drew heavily upon Locke's philosophy.