Final answer:
Thomas Jefferson used the ideas of English philosopher John Locke, particularly concepts of natural rights and government by consent, in drafting the Declaration of Independence. Locke's influence was instrumental in shaping the document's principles, establishing individual rights such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as inalienable.
Step-by-step explanation:
Influences on the Declaration of Independence
When Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence in 1776, he predominantly drew upon the ideas of English philosopher John Locke. Locke's work, especially his Second Treatise of Government, espoused the concept of natural rights, which became a foundational element in America's struggle for independence. Individual Rights, including the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, were highlighted as inalienable rights that no government could take away, mirroring Locke's philosophies from England's Glorious Revolution era.
Jefferson's declaration was not just a statement of intent to break away from British rule but a manifesto proclaiming the fundamental principles that would guide the new nation. The text declared that all men were created equal and endowed with certain unalienable rights, echoing Locke's theory of social contract and government's responsibility to secure these rights.
While the ideas of other Enlightenment thinkers like Montesquieu and proponents for independence such as Thomas Paine and Benjamin Franklin did shape the intellectual landscape of the time, it was Locke's theories on personal freedoms and government by consent of the governed that Jefferson explicitly incorporated into the Declaration's text. Paine's Common Sense also contributed to shifting public opinion towards independence, providing context for the Continental Congress's eventual adoption of the Declaration on July 4, 1776.
The philosophical and historic origins of American government as laid out in the Declaration have continued to influence the United States, inspiring later movements for equal rights and shaping America's democratic identity.