The American Declaration of Independence document is regarded as one of the most significant texts in American history. Thomas Jefferson, its author, was influenced by some ideas and political philosophies and did not claim that the document had original ideas. He mentioned in 1825 that “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, and to give to that expression the proper tone and spirit called for by the occasion.” Some different philosophers and authors had an influence. Similarly, the drafters of the United States Constitution were influenced by documents, works, and ideas of people of other countries and political philosophers who developed and worked on the ideas of enlightenment from 17th and 18th century Europe. The American Revolution itself was a result of several ideas, inspired by principles that developed in the Age of Enlightenment.
Some of the people whose ideas influenced these documents and America’s forefathers include the works of John Locke, Thomas Paine, Adam Smith, William Blackstone, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau among others. Among most of these political thinkers and philosophers, universal themes that are noted include the concept of a social contract between the state and its subjects. That the government protects the rights to life, liberty, and property in exchange for the people’s consent to be ruled by them legitimately. The American constitution echoed the notions of such a contract. No one’s liberty, property, or life could be taken unless due process of the law is considered and there would be a separation of powers to ensure that power does not converge to a single office, thereby rendering it less likely for the rulers to take the natural rights of the citizens away.[1]
In the Declaration of Independence, the text of the preamble drafted by Thomas Jefferson referred to the Laws of nature, and “man’s unalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” These were inspired by the works of John Locke in his ‘Two Treatises of Government’ issued in 1690. Locke argued that the natural rights of man “existed in the state of nature,” they cannot be usurped by the state or even forfeited by the individual. The text of the declaration says: “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” It is inspired by Locke’s theory that a social contract exists between the government and the governed, where the governed consent to be ruled in exchange for protecting their natural rights.[2]
In the US Bill of Rights, i.e., the initial ten amendments of the US Constitution, take many ideas and principles from the French, “Declaration of the Rights of Man 1789” and the “English Bill of Rights 1689” and the Magna Carta 1215. It required the King of England to adhere to the same laws as those of his subjects while defining limits and separations to his power. John Jacques Rousseau’s most important work, The Social Contract in 1762 argued in favor of a contract between a citizen and government that lets them as a people unite together while preserving their freedom. Self-determination and internal liberation coupled with the principles of popular sovereignty presented by Rousseau are reflected in the US Constitution. He imagined a form of direct democracy, in which the majority vote would decide the general will of the people, who would jointly consider the government’s laws. These principles are reflected at the beginning of the text as “We the people . . .” at the start of the U.S. Constitution.[3]
Charles Montesquieu’s vision of a branch-based structured government instead of a single large body is visibly reflected in the structure and purpose of government outlined in the US Constitution. In his work, The Spirit of Laws in 1748, Montesquieu viewed the power of the King of England, with two Houses of Parliament, a divided executive, legislature, and an independent court system, as the favored mode of government. In his view, this structured form of government prevented one front of power from turning too dominant, and the unification of these branches of government would lead to despotism.[4] The US Constitution adopted this view in its Articles 1, 2, and 3.
The First Amendment of the US Constitution which guaranteed freedom of the press, and freedom of speech and mandated that there would be no national religion was inspired by Voltaire’s ideas. Voltaire strongly advocated that all citizens should have the right to free speech without censorship, and freedom of faith in a tolerant society where no one would be persecuted for beliefs. The two things Voltaire argued strongly against in his plays, poems, letters, essays, and works were religious freedom and an absolutist state.[5]
Adam Smith’s work “An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations” in 1776 included his many ideas on the division of labor, utilization of capital, perspectives on political economy, and separation of powers. Book I, Chapter I, Of the Division of Labor and Articles One, two, and Three of the Constitution which establish the three separate branches of government, were influenced by his ideas and many of the forefathers of the US, who studied his works.[6]
These ideas resulted in the framing of these historical documents, in which citizens received a voice in their government, ending their trust in autocratic regimes that restricted their rights. They led to many other freedom movements in the world, besides inspiring the American Revolution and the ideals held by US forefathers.
Bibliography
CRF-USA. “Adam Smith and The Wealth of Nations: Free MArkets and Anti-Trust Laws.” Constitutional Rights Foundation. Spring 2007. http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-23-1-a-Adam-Smith-and-the-wealth-of-nations.html (accessed February 6, 2018).
—. “Bill of Rights in Action.” Constitutional Rights Foundation. Spring 2004. http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-20-2-c-hobbes-locke-montesquieu-and-rousseau-on-government.html.
Ford, Emma. “Bill of Rights and Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s “The Social Contract”- 1762.” Prezi. September 21, 2010. https://prezi.com/skqd1q9gzdba/bill-of-rights-and-jean-jacques-rousseaus-the-social-contract-1762/ (accessed February 6, 2018).
Mastin, Luke. “Voltaire.” The Basics of Philosophy. 2008. http://www.philosophybasics.com/philosophers_voltaire.html (accessed February 6, 2018).
USCIS. The declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States. US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States. US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
CRF-USA. “Adam Smith and The Wealth of Nations: Free MArkets and Anti-Trust Laws.” Constitutional Rights Foundation. Spring 2007. http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-23-1-a-Adam-Smith-and-the-wealth-of-nations.html (accessed February 6, 2018).
Ford, Emma. “Bill of Rights and Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s “The Social Contract”- 1762.” September 21, 2010. https://prezi.com/skqd1q9gzdba/bill-of-rights-and-jean-jacques-rousseaus-the-social-contract-1762/ (accessed February 6, 2018).
“Bill of Rights in Action.” Constitutional Rights Foundation. Spring 2004. http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-20-2-c-hobbes-locke-montesquieu-and-rousseau-on-government.html.
Mastin, Luke. “Voltaire.” The Basics of Philosophy. http://www.philosophybasics.com/philosophers_voltaire.html (accessed February 6, 2018).
CRF-USA. “Adam Smith and The Wealth of Nations: Free MArkets and Anti-Trust Laws.” Constitutional Rights Foundation. Spring 2007. http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-23-1-a-Adam-Smith-and-the-wealth-of-nations.html (accessed February 6, 2018).
