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Examples Of Ideas During The American Revolution

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Throughout the American Revolution we can see examples of ideas taken from the Age of Reason. More commonly known as the Enlightenment Era, this was a period of time where humans began to see that reason could be used to solve all problems. There were many philosphes during this time but three main ones were Machiavelli, John Locke, and Voltaire. Despite each of their own ideas inspiring different leaders throughout the Revolution, they all would hold a different outlook if we were able to ask them today.

For example, Machiavelli would see the Revolution more than likely repulsive. He did not believe in caring for the people and he took brutal actions to prove so. His experience in violent politics influenced his idea on how government should be, and he believed the correct form of government was absolute monarchy. The American Revolution showed a revolt against the leader, a government made for the people, and a shared rule of power between branches. All of these things would most likely make Machiavelli outraged and cause him to be extremely upset with the outcome of the American Revolution. …show more content…

He believed that people should be able to overthrow their leader if they were not happy and that is exactly what the colonists did. After the American Revolution was won the Declaration of Independence was then formed after multiple drafts. This document demonstrated Locke’s philosophy that all men were born equal with the natural right of life, liberty, and property. The Declaration of Independence was highly influenced by Locke’s ideas and if he was alive to be able to see the outcome, he would be very pleased to say the

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It is understood that John Locke played a key role of influence on Thomas Jefferson. This influence can be seen through Jefferson’s writing on the nation’s founding document. This document is called the Declaration of Independence. John Locke, the English Enlightenment philosopher wrote his Two Treatises of Government to refute the belief that kings ruled by divine right and to support the Glorious Revolution of 1688 (Doc 1). This piece of political philosophy provided many explanations for the people’s rights and obligations to overthrow a corrupt government.

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He believed a government is based on the consent of the governed. The Constitution states that the government is “by the people, for the people”. This directly aligns with what John Locke believed. John Locke believed in individual liberties. The Bill of Rights directly lists out what liberties and rights citizens would have.

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The American Revolutionary War came about after decades of grievances on the part of the American colonies, grievances which were put in place by the British Parliamentary system. The lack of American representation in parliament paired with the multitudes of acts designed to take advantage of the colonies were cause enough for the colonies to revolt and to overthrow their government. There are few who would disagree with the American’s justification for the revolution, would Locke be one of them? No he would not, the American colonies were fully justified under Lockean reasons for revolution, considering how long they endured the grievances and the legislature that was passed against them.

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Locke wants people to stand up for the rights that they deserved. Jefferson wanted to create a government contract for the people, which would allow for them to become an independent nation. Locke’s declaration creates revolts and made the American people start thinking about what they wanted for themselves. His declaration caused damage to the great nation until Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence which united the people.

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John Locke was all about the natural rights theory, these rights are given to us without a doubt because we are human, the government does not control these, and Jefferson became tired of fighting for his natural rights from Great Britain. Britain did not give America the same rights as they did their own citizens which is not right since the two where both under the same rule. So, Thomas Jefferson was done with putting up with this, because he believed that Americans had. What Locke meant by this and what Jefferson was trying to get across to Great Britain through the Declaration was that it is a person's right to declare their god given or natural rights and. Jefferson did just that he incorporated this view of Locke’s to justify his ideas

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