Whose concepts did Jefferson draw upon as he drafted the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 1

Jefferson drew most clearly on the ideas of English philosophe JOHN LOCKE. Locke wrote the "Natural Rights Philosophy," which was part of a larger work entitled "The Second Treatise of Civil Government," and became the foundation for the Declaration of Independence. The "Natural Rights Philosophy" includes the ideas that:

All men are born with "natural rights" (to Locke, these rights were life, liberty, and the right to own property).

That the government works for the people (not the people for the government).

That to be legitimate a government must have the consent of the governed.

And that the people have the right to overthrow a government that is not protecting the natural rights of the people.

These ideas appear in the first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, and form the rational for independence. It is ironic that the colonists used the ideas of an Englishman to justify indpendence. Gandhi used Locke's ideas, too, when arguing for the independence fo India in the 1930s and 1940s.

Answer 2

The Preamble of the Declaration is influenced by the spirit of republicanism, which was used as the basic framework for liberty.[1] In addition, it reflects Enlightenment philosophy, including the concepts of natural law, and self-determination. Ideas and even some of the phrasing was taken directly from the writings of English philosopher John Locke. Thomas Paine's Common Sense had been widely read and provided a simple, clear case for independence that many found compelling. According to Jefferson, the purpose of the Declaration was "not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of . . . but to place before mankind the common sense of the subject, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent, and to justify ourselves in the independent stand we are compelled to take."

Answer 3

the natural born rights of man to "life, liberty, and property", Jefferson borrowed those words from an Englishman, John Locke. Only Jefferson's words were switched around to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". Locke was big into governments being for the people, not so much for the royalty. He also thought that the government should be a social contract between the people and the government, for the betterment and protection of everyone.

Answer 4

John Locke

Answer 5

One of his major sources was the Baron de Montesquieu, a French philosopher whose ideas influenced all of our Founding Fathers, especially his idea that government should be divided into three branches, the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judiciary. Montesquieu was "The Father of Political Science."

Answer 6

The name coming to mind is Alexander De Toqueville, but I know there are like 2 or 3 more.