The “Founding Fathers” of the United States would have answers to today’s most controversial issues, whether those are cases of police brutality in Baltimore or questions on the rights of same-sex couples through the nation. The era which brought into being the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution is often referred to as the "New Enlightenment" during this era our Founding Fathers turn to the great works of Enlightenment philosophy when the time came to construct a new government. This new government would put man’s right as the top priority and working together to prohibit the rule of tyrannical leaders such as King George III of England. Enlightenment thinkers such as Montesquieu, Beccaria, and Locke ideas on the form and
…show more content…
Locke’s theory can be examined through the American Declaration of Independence. This document declares citizens have rights such as “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” This is a clear connection of Locke’s beliefs on Natural rights. Locke expressed that all individuals are equal as they are born with certain "unalienable" natural rights. These rights are God-given and can never be taken or even given away. Locke states that the government is obligated to serve people, namely by protecting life, liberty, and property at all cost. In Locke’s eyes the purpose of government is to secure and protect the natural rights and in return the people must obey the laws created by their rulers. This basis of an arrangement is detailed in the American Declaration of Independence as well. The document explains that when and if a government becomes destructive “it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it;” this would be know as Locke’s social contract between the government and its’ people. In this contract Locke details that the citizens of a state would turn over their power to an established government when that said government signs a contract declaring that its’ members will have the common interest in mind. If this government failed to …show more content…
These ideas contributed to a finally settle ment on one of the most controversial issues faced today. This issue being the legalization of same-sex marriage. For many years this rights movements was denied by many supreme court members. This created an unjust and dehumanizing environment for same-sex couple. Members of the court justice were denying the simple act of legally marrying who they most loved in the world. For these couples, their natural rights were being revoked and “thrown away.” Riot after riot changes sadly weren’t being made and same-sex couples were still being discriminated against. However after further investigation, the supreme was able to see that this negligence was a direct violation of the constitution. After June 26, 2015 the Supreme Court ruled by a 5-to-4 vote that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. This day is a true testament to the ideas and concepts created by the enlightenment thinkers. It is clearly seen that these philosophers all encouraged a government that fought for the right of the people, thus the result being the legalization of same-sex
Locke’s theory can be examined through the American Declaration of Independence. This document declares citizens have rights such as “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” This is a clear connection of Locke’s beliefs on Natural rights. Locke expressed that all individuals are equal as they are born with certain "unalienable" natural rights. These rights are God-given and can never be taken or even given away. Locke states that the government is obligated to serve people, namely by protecting life, liberty, and property at all cost. In Locke’s eyes the purpose of government is to secure and protect the natural rights and in return the people must obey the laws created by their rulers. This basis of an arrangement is detailed in the American Declaration of Independence as well. The document explains that when and if a government becomes destructive “it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it;” this would be know as Locke’s social contract between the government and its’ people. In this contract Locke details that the citizens of a state would turn over their power to an established government when that said government signs a contract declaring that its’ members will have the common interest in mind. If this government failed to …show more content…
These ideas contributed to a finally settle ment on one of the most controversial issues faced today. This issue being the legalization of same-sex marriage. For many years this rights movements was denied by many supreme court members. This created an unjust and dehumanizing environment for same-sex couple. Members of the court justice were denying the simple act of legally marrying who they most loved in the world. For these couples, their natural rights were being revoked and “thrown away.” Riot after riot changes sadly weren’t being made and same-sex couples were still being discriminated against. However after further investigation, the supreme was able to see that this negligence was a direct violation of the constitution. After June 26, 2015 the Supreme Court ruled by a 5-to-4 vote that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. This day is a true testament to the ideas and concepts created by the enlightenment thinkers. It is clearly seen that these philosophers all encouraged a government that fought for the right of the people, thus the result being the legalization of same-sex