Final answer:
Thomas Jefferson was influenced by English philosopher John Locke when writing the Declaration of Independence, particularly in the concepts of unalienable rights and government by the consent of the governed. The Declaration emphasized ideas of equality and civil liberties, drawing from Locke's Enlightenment ideals and becoming a cornerstone of American political thought.
Step-by-step explanation:
The English philosopher John Locke significantly influenced Thomas Jefferson when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. Locke's work, Second Treatise of Government, espoused the concepts of individual rights and the government as a protector of those rights. Jefferson drew upon Locke's philosophy, particularly concerning unalienable rights, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, to articulate the American colonists' entitlement to freedom from British rule. The Declaration of Independence reflects these ideals and asserts that all men are created equal, which has been fundamental to American society's ongoing push for equal rights and civil liberties.
Furthermore, Thomas Jefferson also incorporated phrases and ideas from William Blackstone, another influential thinker of the era, using terms like 'self-evident,' 'unalienable rights,' and 'Laws of Nature,' and Nature's God' within the text of the Declaration.
As a result of Jefferson's work, the Declaration remains a powerful symbol of American values and the philosophical underpinnings of the nation's government, resonating with the concept of a republic where the consent of the governed is paramount. It laid the foundation for the protections of civil liberties in state constitutions and continued to inspire political thought and movements advocating equality and individual rights, profoundly affecting the course of American history.