American Government
Declaration of Independence
Locke and Jefferson
John Locke and Natural Law:
John Locke, 1632-1704, was an English
Enlightenment philosopher. He believed that
people once lived in a state of nature, which means
without laws or government. Locke wrote about the
idea of the “social contract.” The Social Contract
was when people form governments and give up
their natural rights from their state of nature in order
to receive the key rights of life, liberty and property.
All of this depends on the concept of the “consent
of the governed,” that the people are an active part
of the contract and participate on their own accord.
Thomas Jefferson:
Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826, was a Virginia
lawyer who was a delegate to the Continental
Congress, the writer of the
Declaration of
Independence, a governor
of Virginia, ambassador to
France and Secretary of
State under President
George Washington. He
was elected the third
President of the United
States, serving two terms
in this highest office in the
land.
Locke and Jefferson
Jefferson was a great admirer of Locke’s
writings, and once wrote that Locke was “one of the
three greatest men that ever lived”. Historians have
wondered how much Locke’s writings influenced
Jefferson’s writing of the Declaration of
Independence. Referring to the origin of the
Declaration, Jefferson wrote: “Neither aiming at
originality of principle or sentiment, nor yet copied
from any particular and previous writing, it was
intended to be an expression of the American
mind…”
Keeping Jefferson’s words in mind, read the
following passage from John Locke where he
describes the conditions under which people are
justified in overthrowing their government:
Name: _________________________
Date: __________________________
John Locke’s Second Treatise on Government
 “whenever the Legislators endeavor to take
away, and destroy the Property of the
People, or to reduce them to Slavery under
Arbitrary Power, they put themselves into a
state of War with the People, who are
thereupon absolved from any farther
Obedience”

“when the Government is dissolved, the People
are at liberty to provide for themselves, by
erecting a new Legislative, differing from the
other, by the change of Persons, or Form, or
both as they shall find it most for their safety
and good.”
Declaration of Independence
Now compare Locke’s words to a passage from
the Declaration of Independence, in which Jefferson
offers a justification for revolution.
“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.--That to
secure these rights, Governments are instituted
among Men, deriving their just powers from
the consent of the governed, --That whenever
any Form of Government becomes destructive
of these ends, it is the Right of the People to
alter or to abolish it, and to institute new
Government, laying its foundation on such
principles and organizing its powers in such
form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect
their Safety and Happiness.”
Did Jefferson have Locke’s writings in mind while
drafting the Declaration of Independence?
Discussion of this question began in Jefferson’s
time, and continues today.
American Government
Declaration of Independence
Lock & Jefferson Venn Diagram
Name: _________________________
Date: __________________________
Locke
Common themes
Jefferson /
Declaration of Independence
American Government
Declaration of Independence
Questions for Discussion
Name: _________________________
Date: __________________________
Questions for Discussion
1. What are the common themes in these two passages?
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2. What are the critical differences?
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3. In what ways does Jefferson build on the ideas presented by Locke?
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Answer Key:
Venn Diagram:
Locke: Focus on property rights
Common Themes: Justifying the replacement of a corrupt government; Concern for the safety and security of
the governed
Jefferson / Declaration of Independence: Jefferson changes the reference to property to pursuit of happiness.
Jefferson refers to “Any form of Government, Locke refers to “Legislators”
Questions for discussion:
1. What are the common themes in these two passages? Justifying the replacement of a corrupt government;
Concern for the safety and security of the governed
2. What are the critical differences? Jefferson does not mention property in his passage
3. In what ways does Jefferson build on the ideas presented by Locke? Jefferson changes the reference to
property to pursuit of happiness. Jefferson refers to “Any form of Government, Locke refers to
“Legislators”