Which Enlightenment idea is best reflected in this excerpt from the preamble of the Declaration of Independence?

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The Declaration of Independence reflects a great extent the values of Enlightenment. The Declaration of Independence is a formal statement written by Thomas Jefferson asserting freedom from Great Britain. The Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated the world of ideas in Europe. The Enlightenment brought ideas of scientific reasoning over religious reasoning which propelled a huge transition in American views. The movement stimulated religious tolerance and democratic revolutions around the world. Most of the Enlightenment ideas reflected in the Declaration of Independence are from John Locke’s point of thinking. Locke believed that human nature allowed people to be selfish and are born a blank slate (Jayne). All people are equal in a natural state and independent, besides everyone has a natural right to defend “life, liberty, health, or possessions.” Most of Locke’s ideas on enlightenment are fundamentals of government. He states that men are by nature free and equal against claims that God has made all people naturally subject to a monarch. 

According to Locke, people consent to the government for the protection of their natural rights. From the Declaration, a strong point is based on the idea presented before… stated by Thomas Jefferson, “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.” Another key idea of the Enlightenment is the reason as demonstrated by the separation of scientific reasoning over religious reasoning; divine force makes human’s human and destroys intolerance (Jayne). Also, “happiness is achieved if you live by nature’s laws- you don’t have to wait for heaven.” In the Declaration, this statement is based on the reasoning idea of enlightenment- “In the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands that have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires to declare the causes that impel separation.”

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The Social Contract was written by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and according to him it is between the government and the people, although the ideas are based on three enlightenment thinkers – Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Rousseau. The Social Contract has also been reflected in the Declaration of Independence. This is the idea where people get together and agree to give up some of their freedoms so the government can protect their truly important freedoms. Rousseau asserts an idea of popular sovereignty in the Social Contract which also appears in the Declaration of Independence by stating constitutional governments are such “that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving just Powers from the Consent of the Governed.” Popular Sovereignty is the belief that the authority and legitimacy of government are created by the will or consent of its people. Most importantly the people are the source of all political power (Jayne). “It is the right of the people to alter or abolish and to institute new Government,” is a prime example of an idea of the social contract presented in the Declaration of Independence. Enlightenment ideas had a major impact and influence on the thoughts of the Declaration of Independence. Multiple strong ideas are present throughout the Declaration connected to concepts related to enlightenment ideas. Thomas Jefferson based his thoughts on the visions of John Locke and enlightenment thinkers to compose this document of independence.

Works Cited

Jayne, Allen. Jefferson’s Declaration of independence: origins, philosophy, and theology. University Press of Kentucky, 2014.

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What is truly meant by truths that are self-evident? Who is the "we" that is written about?

SKILL: Analyze

The Preamble describes the new philosophy of government that Jefferson and the other Founders proposed. It also justifies the "necessity" of a revolution. In this section of the document, the ideas in John Locke's Second Treatise of Government are described in a short, simple statement.

The Preamble consists of five propositions. Each reflects a common belief that had become prominent among at this time:

1. All men are created equal
2. They are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights
3. Among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
4. Governments are instituted among men to secure these rights
5. Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it. But that long-established governments should not be changed "for light and transient causes"

Read the Preamble aloud to yourself. You might notice that it appears to have been written as a speech. This style is typical for 18th century speeches. Jefferson was skilled at writing in the rhythm, accent, and cadence of human speech. Historians teach us that this form of speech writing is typical is called Style Periodique.

The Preamble makes a monumental statement: "All men are created equal." Stop for a moment and think about how this idea would affect the role and purpose of government. We know historically that not all men and women were provided the same rights and protections by the government before or after the Declaration. But the idea that equal rights should be "self-evident" is central to the Declaration. This concept was what guided the Founders to develop a new form of government.

This phrase has continued to shape the way Americans think. Martin Luther King, Jr. quoted it in his "I Have a Dream" speech. The women's suffrage movement changed it to "All Men and Women are created equal" when they were fighting to get women the right to vote. Even the United Nations has used a version of this phrase in their Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Even when we don't accomplish this goal, the ideal of equality is still important for humanity today.

The Preamble boldly states the "self-evident" rights of every individual as "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." This phrase is slightly different from John Locke's. He stated that these rights are "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Property." Jefferson must have added happiness on purpose; otherwise, he would have just duplicated what Locke wrote. This change in language helped Jefferson argue that government should protect more than just wealth — it should also protect the well being of its citizens.

"— 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 their Safety and Happiness."

Choose one or more of the webpages you've studied as part of this lesson that you think are relevant to the above section of the Declaration and explain why.

SKILLS: Analyze, Apply