Declaration Of Independence John Locke Analysis

The influence of historical events and various religious beliefs on English literature can be seen in almost every genre. Over time, events such as the Protestant Reformation, the Puritan Revolution , and the Enlightenment have affected works of English literature such as Grace Abounding and Robinson Crusoe. The effects of these events can also be seen in American historical documents such as the Declaration of Independence, which was written in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson. At the time it was written, both England and colonial America were largely Protestant nations. However, due to the English crown using their power to control the American colonies ' trade, law creation, and judicial system , the Declaration outlined numerous reasons for …show more content…
In this essay, Locke explicitly states that "all men known and assent to these truths when they come to the use of reason" (Locke). This statement reveals the connection between reason and the determination of natural laws by indicating that without reason humans would not be capable of "[knowing] and [assenting] to these truths". Locke 's Essay on Human Understanding also mentions that "A man is free to the extent that he has the power to think or not, to move or not, according to the preference or direction of his own mind" (Locke). The idea of personal liberty is especially important when looking at the Declaration of Independence, which was largely created due to the king of England failing to allow sufficient freedoms to the American colonies. The emphasis on the necessity of liberty can be seen at the end of the Declaration, where it is stated that "A Prince whose character thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people". The people likely labeled the king as a tyrant due to the many restrictions he placed on the colonies, which eliminated many freedoms. These restrictions are listed within the grievances of the Declaration and included "cutting off [their] Trade with all parts of the world", "[dissolving] Representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people", and "imposing taxes on [them] without [their] Consent" all of which limited the colonies freedom to participate in trade, government, and helping to decide how the colonies were to be taxed. In his essay, Locke states that "A man couldn 't be free if his will were determined by anything other than his own desire" (Locke). Within the list of grievances against the English crown, it becomes clear that the lack of liberty due to the king 's control over the