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The following question contains three parts. First answer Part A, then Part B, and conclude with Part C.

Use the primary source excerpt from the Declaration of Independence (1776) below to answer the questions that follow.

Declaration of Independence (excerpt) -1776 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 [sic] their Safety and Happiness.

 

Part A: Quote from the text above where it states that people are entitled to natural rights?

Part B:   Quote from the text above where it mentions the social contract – that government gets its power from the people?

 

Part C: Identify the Enlightenment philosopher who most influenced the ideas in the excerpt above.  Cite evidence from the excerpt to explain your answer.

(Identify) (Cite) any evidence below
(Explain) Explanation connects to cited evidence

Respuesta :

Part A- People are entitled to natural rights as all men are created equal and they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Part B- The government gets its power from the people as whenever a certain type of government becomes destructive, it is the right of the people to abolish it and create a new government and organizing its powers in such a way that most likely effects their Safety and Happiness.

Part C- The enlightenment philosopher whose thoughts are penned down here is John Locke. The phrase "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness," was an idea first considered by Locke in his Two Treatises on Government.


MrZieleniewo

Part A -- this part of the text speaks of natural rights:

  • "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."

Part B - this part mentions the social contract (and popular sovereignty) - that the government gets its power from the people:

  • "To secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.  ... 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."

Part C:  Identify the Enlightenment philosopher:

  • John Locke

John Locke was one of the first of the Enlightenment era philosophers. The Enlightenment's emphasis on reason was in contrast to superstition and traditional beliefs.  The Scientific Revolution had shown that there are natural laws in place in the physical world and in the universe at large. Applying similar principles to matters like government and society, Enlightenment thinkers believed that using reason will guide us to the best ways to operate politically so we can create the most beneficial conditions for society.  For John Locke, this included a conviction that all human beings have certain natural rights which are to be protected and preserved.    Locke's ideal was one that promoted individual freedom and equal rights and opportunity for all.  Each individual's well-being (life, health, liberty, possessions) should be served by the way government and society are arranged.

John Locke, in his Second Treatise on Civil Government (1690), had expressed the ideas of natural rights in these words:

  • The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions… (and) when his own preservation comes not in competition, ought he, as much as he can, to preserve the rest of mankind, and may not, unless it be to do justice on an offender, take away, or impair the life, or what tends to the preservation of the life, the liberty, health, limb, or goods of another.

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