The Declaration Of Independence By John Locke - 1294 Words

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. – The Declaration of Independence John Locke, perhaps the greatest single influence on early American political thought, studied and articulated truths that had been simply assumed. His experiences during the English Civil War and efforts to bring about the Glorious Revolution led him to search for ways to legitimize resistance to an overbearing king. His final argument, the Second Treatise of Government, clarifies British constitutional laws by focusing on the individual’s rights in relation to those of society, setting the stage for both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, and permeating Western culture. Born to a Puritan clothier on August 29, 1632, Locke entered Oxford at the close of the English Civil War. He considered both law and religion, but eventually settled on medicine as his mà ©tier, though he never earned his doctorate. While serving as personal physician toShow MoreRelatedPrinciples Of John Locke And The Declaration Of Independence1021 Words   |  5 Pages Essay Question: RELATE the ideas of John Locke to the Declaration of Independence by DISCUSSING three main ideas in the Declaration of Independence and how each relates to the Natural Rights Philosophy. FCA 1: Clearly stated definition AND explanation of Natural Rights Philosophy. (35 points) FCA 2: Correct and consistent verb usage. (15 points) FCA 3: No unnecessary words and phrases; no repetition. (15 points) FCA 4: Concluding remarks that summarizes the focus of the essay and emphasizesRead MoreJohn Locke s Theory Of The Declaration Of Independence2480 Words   |  10 PagesJohn Locke, an influential English philosopher, has been considered one of the greatest thinkers during the Enlightenment. Well-known for his fundamental role in developing political philosophy, John Locke is widely regarded as â€Å"the Father of Liberalism†. Furthermore, being a pioneer empiricist, his famous theory of the human mind as containing non-innate ideas is often seen as an inspiration for contemporary empiricists. He also contributed to the social contract theory. This theory states that:Read MoreThe Declaration Of Independence, By Edmund Burke, John Locke, And Alexis De Tocqueville964 Words   |  4 PagesThe Declaration of Independence, arguably the most important document to have been written in the history of the United States, testified to the sovereignty given by the Founding Fathers to Kin g George III and the whole of Great Britain which ultimately established the Thirteen Colonies as autonomous and free. The ideas perpetuated in the pages of this great document are compelling and genuine. However, they did not appear out of thin air. Therefore, it is appropriate to assert that these conceptsRead MoreAnalysis Of John Locke And Baron De Montesquieu s The Declaration Of The Independence 1374 Words   |  6 PagesOutline Intro Preamble: Bridge to D.I.: Bridge to Jefferson’s influences: Enlightenment Thinkers: Thesis: Enlightenment thinkers John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu would highly agree with the preamble to the Declaration of the Independence, while Thomas Hobbes would strongly oppose the preamble due to his general lack of belief in humanity. Body Paragraph One TS: John Locke, often referred to as one of the most influential philosophical and political thinkers of the seventeenth century due to hisRead MoreThe Enlightenment Theory Of John Locke1627 Words   |  7 PagesEnlightenment theory philosophies of John Locke offered a future that could drastically change government, economic and social ideals. Thomas Jefferson borrowed liberally from the enlightenment theory from John Locke, specifically focusing on Locks theories of the equality of men, natural rights, and that people should have a say on how the government treated people. Jefferson created a draft document created a bold experiment, America. The enlightenment philosophy of John Locke theorized that that men wereRead MoreThomas Paine Common Sense Analysis1052 Words   |  5 Pageswriting by examining â€Å"The Declaration of Independence† and Thomas Paine’s â€Å"Common Sense.† Basically, the two documents echo principles stated in John Locke’s  "Second Treatise of Government,† and share a style of expressing their feelings on national issues; the authors examine and give reasons for colonial problems with the government and offer a solution. The tone and audience might vary, but the overall message is similar in its principles, showing the impact Locke and Paine had on such a vitalRead MoreThe Inspiration of the Declaration of Independence1203 Words   |  5 PagesMany of us tend to wonder what was the inspiration of the Declaration of Independence? What or who influenced one of the greatest founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, to create such an important document in our American history. To really understand what influenced Thomas Jefferson, we must understand some of the men who inspired him when creating this document. Its also important for us to understand the philosophies these men went by, and why Thomas Jefferson wanted incorporate their philosophiesRead MoreThe Influence of Locke’s Social Contract on the Declaration of Independence869 Words   |  4 PagesThe Influence of Locke’s Social Contract on The Declaration of Independence During the 1700s the American settlers suffered the abuses from their Mother England, and constantly fought through the rebellious spirit that lived within them. As their last hopes for independence dissolved by the greediness of the king, a man raised his voice, encouraging his subalterns to defend their freedoms. Richard Henry Lee proclaimed, â€Å"that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independentRead MoreThe Reasons Behind The Writing Of The Declaration Of Independence896 Words   |  4 PagesThe Reasons Behind the Writing of the Declaration of Independence There were several events that led up to the writing and publication of the Declaration of Independence. The colonists did not understand why they were being taxed on items such as stamps and tea which was extremely essential to the colonists at this time. The phrase â€Å"taxation without representation† was used by the colonists to show their outrage with these taxes from England. They set out to rebel and started the American RevolutionRead MoreReasons For Writing The Declaration Of Independence927 Words   |  4 PagesReasons for Writing the Declaration of Independence Every July 4, Americans celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but do we really understand why it was written in the first place? The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 is by far one of the most important historical documents for the United States of America (Stockdale, 2016). In Jefferson s words, the Declaration was written, In order to place