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?
(4 points)
John Locke contributed two key ideas to the Enlightenment:
1) Natural Rights: Locke argued that individuals have inherent natural rights such as life, liberty, and property. These rights are not granted by the government but are instead inherent to all individuals. We see this idea demonstrated in the United States 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."
2) Social Contract: Locke developed the concept of a social contract, which suggests that the legitimacy of government arises from the consent of the governed. According to this idea, individuals willingly give up some of their rights in exchange for the protection and security provided by the government. This concept is reflected in the United States Constitution, particularly in its preamble, where it states, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity..." The Constitution lays out the framework for the government's authority, emphasizing the consent and participation of the people.