John Locke's Second Treatise of Government and Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence are two of the most influential writings of all time. Many countries over the centuries have used these writings as the basis for their proclamation of independence. These authors laid the foundation for the idea of the State of Nature which is the founding base of our government.
The Second Treatise of Government and the Declaration of Independence are very similar in their writings, which proves Locke's work had an impact on Jefferson. Surprisingly as it is, Jefferson has been accused over the centuries for plagiarizing John Locke. .
The biggest similarity between both writings is that they are strongly focused on the belief that all men are created equal and have the right to happiness. Locke explains that humans have natural rights of life, liberty, and property. Jefferson restates this claim as unalienable Rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Both works state that no one person is above or superior to another person. The natural law of man is not under the authority of man but ruled by the Laws of Nature. Also they state that those natural rights can't be taken away because humans are born with rights that are governed by natural laws and not by a government. The wordings in both these writings are nearly identical in explaining these rights of Nature.
The State of Nature is addressed in both works. Both authors use it as the basis for their ideal government. Jefferson believes that if one set of politics is not working properly under the State of Nature, then the people must break away from it and begin a new one, because this is what the Laws of Nature entitle them. Locke states that everyone is free under the State of Nature, but can also be under a government. But if the government violates the State of Nature then the government should be removed. Both Locke and Jefferson use the Law of Nature as the best style of government that could be achieved.
Locke vs. Jefferson Both Locke's ideas and Jefferson's ideas are almost identical. Locke's ideas are in of a more modern time though because he came many years after Jefferson did. Locke's natural rights are very similar to those of Jefferson. ... The rights to rebellion and revolution itself have similar meanings between Locke and Jefferson. ...
Those who argue that the death penalty is an ethical way to deal with societies "bad seeds" often state that great American thinkers and leaders such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Kant, Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Mill all supported the death penalty (Koch 324). But what people fail to remember is that Washington and Jefferson, both supported slavery as well and surely, the advice of someone who has clearly demonstrated a total disregard and lack of respect for the value of a human life cannot and should not even be brought up in such an argument as c...
