Locke was an influence on the founding fathers of our country. What two ideas did he contribute to the Enlightenment? Where in the founding documents of the United States do we see each of those ideas demonstrated?
They wanted states to have more power than the national government
They favored a bill of rights to ensure individual rights in the constitution
They did not want the constitution to be immediately ratified by states
They wanted increased power of the national government under the constitution
It seems that there is some confusion in the provided answer. John Locke did indeed have a significant influence on the founding fathers of the United States and the Enlightenment. Here are the two main ideas contributed by Locke and their presence in the founding documents:
1. Social Contract Theory: Locke's concept of the social contract argued that government is based on a mutual agreement between the people and their rulers, in which the government's power comes from the consent of the governed. This idea is reflected in the Declaration of Independence, particularly with the statement, "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."
2. Natural Rights: Locke advocated for the recognition and protection of natural rights, which include life, liberty, and property. The idea of natural rights is expressed in the Declaration of Independence, where Thomas Jefferson wrote, "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."
Overall, Locke's influence is seen in the foundational principles of limited government and the protection of individual rights that are prominent in both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.