Certify Teacher Practice Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

John Locke's influence on the Declaration of Independence is significantly evident through his advocacy for the social contract and the inherent rights to life, liberty, and property. Locke proposed that governments are formed by the consent of the governed, and their primary purpose is to protect these natural rights. In his writings, he argued that individuals have the right to overthrow a government that fails to protect their rights. This concept directly resonates in the Declaration, where Thomas Jefferson articulated the idea that all men are created equal and endowed with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Locke's theories provided a philosophical foundation for the American colonies’ justification for independence from British rule. By asserting that government derives its authority from the consent of the people and should protect their basic rights, Locke’s ideas empowered the colonists to seek sovereignty and challenge the legitimacy of a government that was perceived to infringe upon their rights. This alignment of Locke’s principles with the foundational ideas of the Declaration of Independence underscores the profound impact his thoughts had on shaping the ideologies of the American Revolution.