Question

How was the Declaration of Independence influenced by the ideas of the enlightment

Answer 1

John Locke was perhaps the foremost philosopher of the Enlightenment. He believed that a government was legitimate only if the people it ruled consented to its authority. ... American documents such as the Declaration of Independence demonstrate the influence of Locke's ideas.

Answer 2

Core Enlightenment ideals used in the Declaration of Independence include the idea that all people are entitled to certain rights just by virtue of being human, the belief that a government’s legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed, and the idea that a government’s main purpose is to protect the rights of the people.

What Enlightenment ideas are reflected in the Declaration of Independence? The Declaration included the principles of John Locke. It also included the right to revolt against an unjust ruler, such as the social contract states.