The Declaration of Independence

Example of American Intellectual thought?OR

Would Thomas Jefferson been busted by Turnitin?

Natural LawFundamental idea of the

Enlightenment was the concept of Natural Law

Developed from the Scientific Revolution

Used reason to discover the laws of nature

IF we could use reason to find the natural laws that govern the physical world

THEN why not use reason to discover the natural laws that govern human nature

Such as: freedom of expression, independence, role of government, etc.

John Locke and Natural Law

●Rejected “Divine Right of Kings”

●Natural rights are rights that belong to humans from birth

●These include the right to life, liberty and private property

●Each individual has a natural desire for liberty and the ability to create a perfect society

Social ContractTheory that says the state

only exists to serve the will of the people

The people are the source of all the political power enjoyed by the state

Government should derive its power from the people it governed.

Social Contract between the people and the government

“A government is only legitimate if it protects an individual’s right to life, liberty and private property.”

● In order to preserve the common good, the central role of government is to protect private property.

●This ensures the basic concept of the individual: that everyone is equal

• “People have the right to overthrow a government that violates these rights.”

• The people can choose to give or withhold this power

• Locke believed that revolution was not just a right, but an obligation if the state abused their power

Questions for analysis:1. What evidence of Enlightened thought is

present?2. What is the purpose of government?3. Who creates government?4. Who has the only power to establish

government?5. What are Rights?6. Where do you see examples of:

a. Compact or political bond between the people and the government

b. Reference to a higher authorityc. Idea of mutual consent d. Statement of a social contract (gov’t.—

people)e. Violations of the contract between the

sides

When in the Course of human events,…..declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

What evidence of Enlightened Thought is present in the Declaration of Independence?

What was the purpose of government?

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just

powers from the consent of the governed, --

What was the only legitimate government?

Who creates government?

Important to know that government was not created during the act of creation

That which free people freely create for themselves.

Arguments of the Declaration of Independence

1. Natural Law [higher law]: What argument does this create in favor of Independence?

No man or constitution can violate the higher law.

2. Compact: What do the colonist accept as their agreement with Britain?

Colonists agree to be governed by parliament.

3. What do they say violates this agreement?There was no compact between the colonists and

parliament that gave Parliament the right to participate in colonial government

Taxation by Parliament - wrongDissolving colonial assemblies - wrong

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

Identify the intellectual trend in the following section from the Declaration of Independence - Covenant, Mutual ConsentPolitical Bond, Compact, Contract, Higher Authority