Compare And Contrast Thomas Jefferson And The Declaration Of Independence

Many would say that America was built on the principle that “all men are created equal” and that U.S. citizens are all given equal treatment, opportunities, and so on. But, is that really the case? Was Thomas Jefferson’s famous words, forever inscribed in the Declaration of Independence, meant for everyone? Taking a look back into America’s short (at least when compared to other countries) history, the phrase “all men are created equal” doesn’t really seem to correlate with the circumstances of that century. Africans were enslaved and forced to do hard, strenuous labor or else be forced to endure a beating by the slave master. But don’t forget, all men are created equal. It says so in the constitution. Fast forward a couple of hundred years where all men still aren’t equal, but are close to it.

In comparing Thomas Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptists, The Declaration of Independence, and U.S. Constitution, it is evident that the basis of all three documents is the idea that all human beings possess God-given fundamental rights and that government is created to protect those rights. The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, is the first of the three documents penned. This is important because it defined the rights of liberty and equality of all American citizens as outlined in John Locke’s natural law thesis (Martin, page 113). In addition to providing an itemized account of the grievances colonist’s held against King George III of England, it served to justify the colonist’s quest for independence and separation from British rule. The Declaration of Independence conveyed to the crown that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, which among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." The Founders’ of the New World understood that their pursuit of liberties and autonomy specified in the Declaration of Independence could not come to fruition without instituting decrees. In 1787, the U.S. Constitution, was written to replace the Articles of Confederation with a better defined series of stringent laws that would legally uphold the freedoms and privileges established in the Declaration of Independence. The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights in

In his Second Treatise on Government Locke focus’ on liberalism & capitalism, defending the claim that men are by nature free and equal against the idea that God had made all people subject to a king. He argued that people have ‘natural rights’, such as the right to life, liberty, and property, that hold the foundation for the major laws of a society. He says, “…we must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons as they think fit.” (2nd Treatise, Chapter 2, sec 4). John Locke used this claim, that all men were naturally free and equal, for understanding the idea of a government as a result of a social contract. This is where people in the state of nature transfer some of their rights to the government in order to better guarantee the steady and comfortable enjoyment of their lives, liberty, and property.

The revolutionary period was the age of reason. It was the period in time when civilians wanted to take control of their unalienable rights; “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Jefferson). Both Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson took part in the revolutionary period. They were both leaders that took action to receive independence from Great Britain. The two revolutionary leaders are remarkably comparable and contrastable from each other. One huge difference between Henry and Jefferson is their difference as an individual person, views, and politics. Another difference is the difference between the

Thomas Jefferson considers himself a contributor to the Age of Enlightenment. Through many of his writings he expands on the philosophies of the great European writers of that era - Rousseau, Locke, Hume, and Leibniz. In “The Declaration of Independence,” Jefferson directly adopts several themes found in the work of French writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau’s “The Origin of Civil Society,” provides a foundation for most of Jefferson’s ideas in “The Declaration of Independence.”

Jefferson received a great deal of inspiration from Locke in writing the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration, however, is not a creation of government. The Constitution of the United States is the result of the Declaration. Locke influenced that form of government, as well.

Both John Locke and Thomas Jefferson believe that people have certain natural rights and that it is the government’s job to protect these rights. Their documents were both written for revolutions, although they were two very different revolutions. Ultimately, a revolution in Europe influenced Locke to write the Second Treatise on Government. The Second Treatise on Government was important because it influenced the way many later philosophers would view government. One philosopher influenced by Locke was Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence used the same philosophy as Locke’s Second Treatise on Government, but it also held great significance in that it was the first time a group of colonies had successfully separated from a world power like Great Britain.

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are two significant documents that transformed the history of the United States. The people of the “New World” went from being ruled by British law and living in the thirteen colonies, to becoming an independent nation with a democratic government. The Declaration was written to ensure that all official ties with its mother country, Great Britain, were suspended indefinitely. It then went on to describe the concepts and ideologies behind a just and fair government. The Constitution, however, outlined how the newly democratic government would operate. In 1776, after the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, a verdict was made that the only constructive way to ensure independence as a nation would be to declare independence from King George III, Parliament, and Great Britain. The colonists sought to fashion a clear, detailed document, known as the Declaration of Independence, which stated why the people chose to move in this direction as well as providing several arguments to support their case. This world-renown document is a symbol of the unity between the 13 colonies during their fight for independence during the American Revolutionary War.

In the 18th century, the fate of Americas political structure was uncertain. In George Washington's Farewell Address in 1796, the president advised that the creation of political parties sharpened by the spirit of retaliation, would inevitably cause long term mistreatment. Despite his words, two of his closest advisors, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, formed the gatherings that started the dual-party system in which the United States operates today.

For many years now, Americans have intended to resolve the conflict regarding to attempt to strike a balance between preserving individual rights and forming a strong lasting union. In reality, the balance between these two topics may always remain intact and finding a solution for both may be difficult to achieve. Though it may be crucial which of the two topics benefits the country more, authors, characters, and founders, have made solid statements that give their own opinion that demonstrate why both of these topics are fundamental to our everyday life as Americans.

Thomas Jefferson's ideals and beliefs were derived from a deep regard for life, liberty, and freedom. His concept of individual freedoms strongly disagreed with the notion of a "guided republic" which he believed concentrated a great deal unchecked power among a few people. This could have the potential of tyrannical government that might suppress personal freedoms of any kind especially those of religion, which Jefferson feels very strongly felt should be protected. After fighting hard to rid America of British domination, Jefferson was determined to create a government that was responsible to, and derived its powers from, a free people. As the writer of the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for

Chief Diplomat is defined as a leader who oversees, creates, and executes foreign relations and policies between the United States and other countries. The two most influential “Chief Diplomats” the US has ever had were George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. George Washington thrusted into the presidency by unanimous vote of the electoral college. Throughout his presidency, George Washington developed the country further than any president who would follow did. Washington was able to defend the homeland and support the United State’s foreign relations through his passing of the Neutrality Proclamation, Jay’s Treaty, and the Treaty of Tripoli. Many historians would argue that Thomas Jefferson made strides in advancing the nation much further through his accomplishment of acquiring the Louisiana Territory. Although neither president perfectly accomplished all goals they set out to complete, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson single-handedly accomplished, shaped, and developed the nation through treaties and foreign relations far more than any other pair of presidents during their terms as president.

Locke’s document and the declaration of independence have the same intent, almost the same wording, and the same result they are essentially the same document. With the documents provided, it can be inferred that both documents are extremely alike in wording, and intention. Locke and Jefferson had similar ideas due to the issues facing colonial times, with the random taxation, strict laws, and unnecessary force. John locke’s social contract highly influenced the Declaration of Independence, by taking the principal rights of his document and only slightly editing them to become the Declaration of Independence.

In the middle of July of 1801, Adams was working the ground near his utilized hands. He considered his fundamental adversary to be Hamilton, who may have quickly dove the U.S. into war had Adams not fortified a course of action with France. On the other hand, he was perhaps most tormented by encounters of Jefferson, who had offended Adams and additionally sold out their own particular cooperation. In the correspondence, Adams considered how certain events of the Revolutionary period had the ability to be impulsive, while others had been dismissed. A legitimate sample, Jefferson's part in the Declaration of Independence was point of fact understood, while the inclination anxiety in the period had starting now been gleams by and by. Ellis prescribes

In the Declaration of Independence (US 1776), Thomas Jefferson introduces a statement accepted by the Second Continental Congress to declare the causes that compel the thirteen colonies to separate themselves from the British Crown and form their own individual states. This revolutionary document is organized into six sections. The Declaration of Independence (US 1776) opens with an introduction, declaring the reasons the American colonies want to leave the British Crown. They also state that their independence is absolutely necessary and unavoidable. The second section includes the preamble which provides the reasons for writing the Declaration of Independence (US 1776). Also included in this section is the colonist’s beliefs about government and John Locke’s theory on natural rights and social contract. In the third section, 29 grievances are listed against England and King George III. These complaints include taxation without representation, forcing the colonists to keep British soldiers in their homes, restricting the colonist’s trade, shutting down colonial legislatures and their attempts to seek redress from the king for their problems. The fourth section is stating the colonist’s efforts to appeal various decisions made by King George III and how their requests were met in vain. The fifth section is a formal declaration stating that the colonies are now “Free and Independent States” (¶ 6). The colonies state they will rule themselves and discontinue their loyalty to