The Influence of Locke’s Social Contract on the...

The Influence of Locke’s Social Contract on The Declaration of Independence During the 1700s the American settlers suffered the abuses from their Mother England, and constantly fought through the rebellious spirit that lived within them. As their last hopes for independence dissolved by the greediness of the king, a man raised his voice, encouraging his subalterns to defend their freedoms. Richard Henry Lee proclaimed, â€Å"that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, and that all connections between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, dissolved†(29). The incentive had been brought to life again. Lee’s call for independence triggered debate among the delegates of the colonies†¦show more content†¦It is also relevant to point out that under Locke’s theory all men are created equal in the sense that we all are entitled to these rights (life, liberty, and property), and this is also the case with the rights of the Declaration of Independence (life, liberty, and the p ursuit of happiness). Because humans are born with these universal rights, Locke argued that a universal standard of morality was present even during the â€Å"State of Nature†. To Locke, the â€Å"State of Nature† is a state in which every human being is his own king, who answers to no higher authority than his own conscience and will. Although this â€Å"State of Nature† offers complete freedom; this freedom is accompanied by an amorphous mass of fears and insecurities that stem from devolution that Locke called the â€Å"State of War†. The â€Å"State of War† occurs when one individual tyrannizes another (either to enslave him or to take over his property) and the victim of this relationship rightfully decides to defend himself. In the â€Å"State of War† the tyrant tries to deprive the individual of the rights that he is naturally entitled to. As the name â€Å"State of War† indicates, there is usually violence involved in this conflict of power. Due to the unstable quality of the freedom from the â€Å"State ofShow MoreRelatedAge Of Enlightenment755 Words   |  4 Pagesencouraging the American and French Revolutions. The Enlightenment brought about a new age of philosophical and intellectual thinkers, such as John Locke, which helped shape and influence modern government and politics. 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