Ideas of the Declaration of
Independence
SOL USI.6b: The student will demonstrate knowledge
of the causes and results of the American Revolution
by: b) identifying how political ideas shaped the
revolutionary movement in America and led to the
Declaration of Independence
Why Change Things?
1) New political ideas led to a desire for
INDEPENDENCE and democratic
government in the American colonies.
2) The Declaration of Independence
proclaimed independence from
ENGLAND. It stated that people have
natural (inherent) rights to life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness
Where Did These Revolutionary
Ideas Come From?
3) Key philosophies in the Declaration of
Independence were based upon ideas first
expressed by EUROPEAN philosophers.
Ideas of John Locke
1) People have NATURAL
rights to life, liberty and
property. Since these
rights were natural, no
one could take them
away, including the
government and King.
2) Government is created to
PROTECT the rights of
people and has only the
limited and specific
powers the PEOPLE
consent (approve) to give
it.
Key Philosophies (Ideas) of the
Declaration of Independence
1) People have “certain
UNALIENABLE rights” (rights
that cannot be taken away)—
life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness.
2) People establish government to
PROTECT those rights.
3) Government derives (receives)
its power from the PEOPLE.
4) People have a right and duty to
change a government that
violates (breaks, or takes
advantage of) their RIGHTS.
Ben Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson
working on the Declaration of Independence