Question

HELP!

Tell which ideas in the Declaration of Independence were inspired by the Enlightenment and explain what those ideas meant to Jefferson.

Answer 1

Jefferson's idea of "unalienable rights" in the Declaration of Independence is similar to the idea of natural rights, which comes from Locke. According to Locke, people are born with certain inherent rights that the government cannot remove. Jefferson writes in the Declaration that "all men are created equal.".

Answer 2

there are many Enlightenment ideals in the Declaration of Independence. One is the idea that all people are entitled to certain rights just by virtue of being human. Another is the belief that a government’s legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed. Finally, the Declaration of Independence incorporates the Enlightenment idea that a government’s main purpose is to protect the rights of the people.