How Did Thomas Paine Influence The Declaration Of Independence

Since ancient history, philosophers and political theorists have greatly influenced the structures of government and the overall beliefs of the people with their ideas. This was no different with the American Colonies during the 18th century. Philosophers like John Locke and Thomas Paine made the colonists question their political ties to the Crown when the British parliament put unfair measures over the colonies like the Tea Act and the Intolerable Acts. This eventually led them to break those ties and earn their independence by fighting the American Revolutionary War. The Thirteen Colonies strove towards independence because of its influence from historical philosophers and its unique location and circumstance. One of the biggest activists

In the second paragraph, it states “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” (Declaration). This is taken almost right out of John Locke’s The Second Treatise on Government. He states that even in nature, man is “equal and independent” (Locke). Also, Locke says that everyone has natural rights which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. He was obviously a huge influence on Thomas Jefferson when writing the Declaration of Independence. In fact, the next line says 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” (Declaration). This was also an important idea that made up Locke’s philosophy on government. Locke stated that any form of government which started to not function for the benefit of the people was a tyranny. It is the people’s “right to resume their original liberty, and, by the establishment of a new legislative, (such as they shall think fit) provide for their own safety and security” (Locke). This is parallel to the colonies’ situation. Britain was putting unfair taxes and measures on the colonists, so it was their right and duty to overthrow the current system of government and create their own according to Locke. Even though John Locke’s ideology was one justification for the American Revolution, he was not the only historic philosopher to have influence on the Declaration of