Jefferson, Adams and Franklin all spent time in Europe during the Age of Enlightenment and their views were much swayed by the works of John Locke and others of that era. Robert Livingston, the delegate for New York, was a true patriot but was recalled by the state before he could sign the Declaration due to a disagreement with the scope and timing of the Declaration. He went on to serve the new nation admirably by swearing in the first president, George Washington, and later by negotiating the Louisiana Purchase while the resident minister in Napoleon’s court . The Connecticut delegate, Roger Sherman, had more desired to take on the roll of soldier, but accepted the responsibilities asked of him by his constituents to represent them in the Congress. He bowed to the much more diplomatic trio of Jefferson, Franklin and Adams to produce the actual document . The writings of John Locke, well studied by Franklin, Adams and Jefferson, stated that individuals and societies were changed in three ways: education, rational thought and purposeful actions. Locke’s writings also stated that government was a social issue whereby individuals should define a government that would protect their three inalienable rights: life, liberty and property. This rebuked the thought that political authority was a God given right as was the case of the English monarchy . Jefferson, Franklin and Adams all took these views to the table with them when assigned the task to define independence and self-government. Many of …show more content…
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