Final answer:
The Declaration of Independence was influenced by Enlightenment ideas, especially those of John Locke, and reflected principles of fairness found in the Magna Carta and the British Bill of Rights of 1689. It emphasized individual rights, popular sovereignty, and the consent of the governed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Declaration of Independence was greatly influenced by Enlightenment ideals, particularly those articulated by the English philosopher John Locke. The document also reflects principles of fairness established in earlier significant English documents like the Magna Carta and the British Bill of Rights of 1689. These foundational texts set forth ideas of popular sovereignty, asserting that the king was not above the law and emphasizing the citizens' right to have a say in their governance and to a fair trial. The Declaration, penned by Thomas Jefferson, clearly echoes these concepts, promoting individual rights, popular sovereignty, and claiming that governments must derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.
Jefferson's use of phrases such as "all men are created equal" and their endowment “by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights” that include “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,” were directly influenced by Locke's social contract theory. These ideas became fundamental to American government and were crucial in the movement towards independence. They also laid the groundwork for future civil liberties and rights in the United States.