John Locke Declaration Of Independence Analysis

John Locke wrote philosophy in which Thomas Jefferson used in the Declaration of Independence. In John Lockes' "The Second Treatise on Government" he strictly says "TO understand... what state all men are naturally in and that is, a state of perfect freedom" (The Second Treatise on Government, Section 4). Thomas Jefferson used this in the declaration when stating that all men are created equal and that it is their right to be independent. "MAN HATH A RIGHT TO PUNISH THE OFFENDER, AND BE EXECUTIONER OF THE LAW OF NATURE" (The Second Treatise on Government, Section 8). Locke specifically points out that if a person or whole country is an offender of something it is the victims or someone else's right in order to do something about that offense. In the declaration, it is said "it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security." (Declaration 1.2). I believe that this quote is

Locke shows that our natural state is freedom and happiness. How would one achieve their natural state if the government is corrupted? In section 121, Locke provides information on how to avoid the conduct and rules of the government. Although that the government does have power over rules and conducts, Locke says there is a self evident trust between the government and the people for them to achieve their natural state. If the people are not in their natural state the government has broken the trust and the people are justified to no longer obey the governments conduct or any of the rules. How would this relate to the declaration of independence? In the declaration, the authors described how many people did not feel that they were in their natural state under the kings rule. "With certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" (Declaration 1.2). These