Question

Use the excerpt to answer the question. 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. Explain how these ideas from the Declaration of Independence illustrate Enlightenment thinking. (1 point) Responses Voltaire’s ideas about freedom of religion are included. Voltaire’s ideas about freedom of religion are included. Paine’s ideas about freedom of religion are included. Paine’s ideas about freedom of religion are included. Hobbes’s ideas about natural rights are included. Hobbes’s ideas about natural rights are included. Locke’s ideas about natural rights are included. Locke’s ideas about natural rights are included.

Answer 1

so witch 0ne

Answer 2

The excerpt from the Declaration of Independence reflects Enlightenment thinking, particularly through the influence of John Locke's ideas about natural rights. Locke proposed that all individuals are entitled to fundamental rights such as life, liberty, and property, which cannot be taken away by any government. The phrase "all men are created equal" suggests a belief in inherent human rights, aligning with Locke’s philosophy that people have the right to challenge unjust authority.

Additionally, the assertion that individuals are "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights" echoes Enlightenment ideas about rationalism and the belief in a higher moral order—a theme prevalent in Enlightenment thought. This perspective underlines the belief that rights are inherent and bestowed by nature or God, rather than granted by government.

While Voltaire and Paine contributed significantly to Enlightenment thought, their main focus was on freedom of religion and social justice rather than the foundational concept of natural rights expressed in the Declaration. Hobbes, although a key Enlightenment figure, viewed the social contract in a more authoritarian light, which contrasts with the democratic ideals presented in the Declaration.

In summary, the ideas presented in the Declaration of Independence primarily illustrate Locke's influence on the concept of natural rights, emphasizing the Enlightenment value of equality and the belief in inherent human rights.

Answer 3

The correct response that illustrates how the ideas from the Declaration of Independence reflect Enlightenment thinking is: **Locke’s ideas about natural rights are included.**

This is because the Declaration emphasizes the notions of equality and unalienable rights, which align closely with John Locke's philosophy on natural rights that all individuals possess.