Final answer:
John Locke's theory of Natural Rights was the primary influence on the authors of America’s foundational documents, with his ideas permeating the Declaration of Independence and shaping the principles of American government.
Step-by-step explanation:
The philosopher whose theory of Natural Rights most strongly influenced the authors of America's foundational documents is John Locke. Locke's concepts of life, liberty, and property are clearly reflected in Thomas Jefferson's drafting of the Declaration of Independence, where he reshaped them into ‘unalienable rights’ of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Enlightenment philosophers like Locke proposed ideas about the nature of government, individual rights, and the social contract, which were foundational to the development of American political thought.
Locke’s Two Treatises of Government, and particularly his Second Treatise, were instrumental in shaping the philosophical underpinnings of America’s founding documents. His advocacy for popular sovereignty—the idea that governments should be based on the consent of the governed—alongside his natural rights theory, provided a blueprint for a government that serves to protect the rights of the people.
Moreover, the Founding Fathers incorporated Locke’s natural rights theory into the fabric of American government, reflecting their collective belief that a just government must respect and protect the rights of individuals. In addition to Locke, other Enlightenment thinkers like Montesquieu also influenced the Founders, particularly in the structuring of the government to include separation of powers to prevent tyranny.