According to the textbook, “Thomas Jefferson called the [Declaration of Independence] ‘pure Locke,’” referring to the English philosopher John Locke. Which of the following ideas shows Locke’s influence on the Declaration of Independence?

Question

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By violating the social contract with the colonists, the king has lost his authority to rule.
The king of England has a divine right to rule the colonists, so only God can remove his authority.
The king rules by right of force, so it is just for the colonists to overthrow the king using force.
Without a king, the colonists will be able to return to a state of nature in which all men are free.

Answer 1

The idea that shows Locke's influence on the Declaration of Independence is:

By violating the social contract with the colonists, the king has lost his authority to rule.

John Locke's philosophy emphasizes the importance of the social contract and the idea that if a ruler violates the social contract by failing to protect the rights of the people, the people have the right to overthrow that ruler. This concept significantly influenced Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence.