During the development of American society during the 1700s, the colonists worked closely with their British Government. Their partnership claimed the colonies as an extension of British soil and in turn gave Parliament and the British Monarchy authority over this land. For many years this partnership was a profitable one but as the evolution of American society was happening, another evolution happening in Europe. A movement called the Enlightenment was radically making its way through European thoughts and was starting to change the way people rationalized their rights in this world. The philosophers of the Enlightenment dominated ideals such as freedom, liberty, and the rights of all men. They also centered on ideas about the purpose of
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The Declaration of Independence was a symbol for those changes occurring in America due to the Enlightenment and fellow outspoken individuals who were influenced by the movement. The words of Thomas Jefferson in this infamous document were deeply influenced by the Enlightenment. John Lock and Jean Jacques Rousseau were two notably recognized voices of the Enlightenment that held much influence in this document. Their influence can be seen throughout the declaration especially in Jefferson’s preamble. He used key phrases such as “all man are created equal” which is a direct link to John Locke’s description of the State of Nature. In Locke’s views, the State of Nature granted all men equal rights and is free to do as they please without interference from anyone (citation). As Jefferson stated, these rights were “self-evident truths” which meant that all men were bestowed these freedoms for no other reason than being born. Jean Jacques Rousseau’s theories about governmental power and authority also influenced Jefferson’s statements in the Declarations. Jefferson wrote that “government, derive their just powers from the consent of the government.” This is influenced by Rousseau’s theories about monarchy and how it was an unnatural hierarchy of rule and Locke’s theory that people should be the granters of authority, it should not just be given to someone simply because they were born into a rich
The Declaration of Independence was a symbol for those changes occurring in America due to the Enlightenment and fellow outspoken individuals who were influenced by the movement. The words of Thomas Jefferson in this infamous document were deeply influenced by the Enlightenment. John Lock and Jean Jacques Rousseau were two notably recognized voices of the Enlightenment that held much influence in this document. Their influence can be seen throughout the declaration especially in Jefferson’s preamble. He used key phrases such as “all man are created equal” which is a direct link to John Locke’s description of the State of Nature. In Locke’s views, the State of Nature granted all men equal rights and is free to do as they please without interference from anyone (citation). As Jefferson stated, these rights were “self-evident truths” which meant that all men were bestowed these freedoms for no other reason than being born. Jean Jacques Rousseau’s theories about governmental power and authority also influenced Jefferson’s statements in the Declarations. Jefferson wrote that “government, derive their just powers from the consent of the government.” This is influenced by Rousseau’s theories about monarchy and how it was an unnatural hierarchy of rule and Locke’s theory that people should be the granters of authority, it should not just be given to someone simply because they were born into a rich