ipl-logo

Compare And Contrast Jefferson And Declaration Of Independence

908 Words4 Pages

Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin will forever be remembered as great men of stature and character. The similarities of these two brings them in the same conversation continuously when discussing history. Luckily for America, these men graced us with their presence on earth during the same time. Imagine without these two together, how different the Constitution or Declaration of Independence might be. This essay will compare and contrast Thomas Jefferson, the third President of this great nation and a fellow Founding Father Benjamin Franklin by discussing their views on deism, self-reliance and standards of character; all setting the standard for people in America as written by these two Founding Fathers during their time on earth and …show more content…

The very essence of the Enlightenment Era was to test reason into each notion and each traditional assumption of ancestors. Once reason was applied to revelation Jefferson and Franklin began to follow deism. Deism is defined as the belief in a supreme being, who remains unknowable and untouchable. God is viewed as merely the creator of that is life and the principal of rationality in the universe (allaboutphilosophy.org). Jefferson and Franklin had their interest perked by the writings of earlier generations who believed the world moves forward without God’s supervision as a self-operating and self-explanatory organism (allaboutphilosophy.org). “The laws of life reveal themselves through the light of reason and nature” as believed by Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. “Reliance on the power of reasoning exchanges faith for human logic (Johnson)”. Franklin and Jefferson spent much of their later years on earth explaining that reason builds the most successful future for America and declares the character standard for successful happiness of each individual …show more content…

Franklin declared that hard work and sacrifice was the corner stone in the “American way.” This promotion of self-reliance paved the way for generations from all over world to come to America and pursue their happiness. Thomas Jefferson endorsed John Locke’s phrase which was also promoted by Franklin in the idea of the “pursuit of property.” While assisting in drafting the Declaration of Independence Jefferson changed the quote to “The pursuit of happiness,” becoming the most famous phrase in the Declaration of Independence (Hamilton). To this day in 2018, people of Iraq can quote America’s phrase from the Declaration of Independence “The pursuit of happiness.” Immigrants from all over the world migrate to American in the search of a true and honest life in search of liberty and the pursuit of

Show More
Related

  • To What Extent Did Benjamin Franklin Convert To Patriotism

    1639 Words  | 7 Pages

    Although a very loyal man, Benjamin Franklin has been considered both a Loyalist and a Patriot, but he is marked very clearly as a founding father, and as thus, should have primarily been a Patriot during and after the war with England. In this paper I wish to address the following questions. To what extent did Benjamin Franklin convert to Patriotism in the Revolutionary war, and what part did he play in achieving American victory? Was his primary success as a diplomat to France, a member of the Continental Congress, or through his subterfuge and spy ring.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Benjamin Franklin Primary Sources

    841 Words  | 4 Pages

    The primary source is vital to our understanding of history. Through analysis of primary sources, historians can piece together a most accurate representation of events. Through this analysis they may produce secondary sources, that explain those primary ones. Along with events that transpired, primary sources provide some insight into thought processes and conversations between people. Benjamin Franklin was a critical character in American history.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Gordan's Wood

    599 Words  | 3 Pages

    This book attempts to grasp beneath the many images and representatives of Franklin that have happened over the past two hundred years and recover Franklin who would become a symbolic American Founding Father. Franklin was not even destined to be an American, but this book is about how he became one. Gordan S Wood was a fellow at the institute for United States studies in London in 2002. This book was printed by the penguin press in 2004. He is now an author and professor.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The Declaration Of Independence On The Rights Of Man And Citizen

    361 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Declaration of Independence, made by the United States on July 4, 1776, and the Declaration on the Rights of Man and Citizen, adopted by France on August 26, 1789, are two of the most important documents of the modern era. Both documents show the values of their respective revolutions and give us the basic rights and freedoms of people. However, the way each of the documents are written are quite different. The Declaration of Independence is rooted in the Christian tradition and reflects a belief in a creator God who provides and gives us rights, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Edwards And Jeffersonians

    1282 Words  | 6 Pages

    Following the European Enlightenment of the 17th Century, an intellectual movement arose in the New World inspired by the Newtonian and Lockean schools of thought. The 18th Century American Enlightenment absorbed Newton’s notions of law and order and combined them with Locke’s approach that law and order can be observed using the five human senses: touch, taste, sight, hearing, and smell. This movement would become the foundation of American political and social theory and would dominate the American school of thought until Darwinism in the 19th Century. Although different in numerous ways, two types of American intellectuals, Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) and The Jeffersonians, emerged during this period sharing one major assumption.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Benjamin Franklin's Aphorisms

    455 Words  | 2 Pages

    Chase Mason Mrs. Dryden American Lit/Comp 11 March 2023 Aphorism/Amendment Benjamin Franklin was the Founding Father of the United States. He was best known for his writing, publishing, and being a political philosopher. He would write political essays, scientific observations, and wise sayings. “Poor Richard’s Almanack” is a book he illustrated to entertain his readers with stories and aphorisms. Another founding father that was known for wisdom was James Madison.

    Read More

  • Freedom Of Religion Benjamin Franklin Summary

    1429 Words  | 6 Pages

    Benjamin Franklin was one of the founding fathers of America. Being such, he helped create the constitution in America. One of the striking aspects of this document was the focus on freedom, including freedom of religion. In his Autobiography part 2, Franklin demonstrates his gift of irony once again as he points out the lack of freedom that organized religion allows its followers. In his view, the absence of moral teachings renders the religious establishment obsolete as an inspiration and source to good morality.

    Read More

  • Essay On Declaration Of Independence

    697 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Declaration of Independence Essay The Declaration of Independence is a document that was written by Thomas Jefferson, which was meant for the thirteen colonies to declare their freedom from British rule and find their path to freedom. The Declaration of Independence was a document that helped the american colonies become independent from Great Britain and many notable philosophers and writers signed the document even though it was nearly their death wish. This document was created by the Second Continental Congress and symbolized almost the end of fighting for their freedom from the British because they had a wish to make a new life where they are separated and not ruled by them anymore. The Enlightenment Age was when culture and

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast John Locke And The Declaration Of Independence

    1002 Words  | 5 Pages

    John Locke was a philosopher and political scientist. He had many interests and produced a number of writings that influenced future leaders. One of these leaders was Thomas Jefferson, who was involved with the aid of America and the act gaining independence from Britain. The Declaration of Independence and Locke’s views on government contain many similar aspects. These ideas includes the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (natural rights); the protection that is provided by the government for these rights; and the altering or abolishment of government if it fails to provide and protect the rights of the people.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Declaration Of Independence And Common Sense

    661 Words  | 3 Pages

    Christopher Troyer Mrs. Foster ACP US History 19 September 2017 Two Men, One Idea The Declaration of Independence and Common Sense may have more in common than you think. Thomas Jefferson was a well educated man with a background in law. He attended the Second Continental Congress where he wrote The Declaration of Independence.

    Read More

  • Thomas Paine Themes

    1790 Words  | 8 Pages

    Thomas Paine, born 1737 in Thetford, England, was the son of a Quaker while his mother was part of the Church of England. Paine never received a higher or secondary education like many of his contemporaries writers and political activists, but he had always been compassionate about social and public welfare. He worked a humble job as a tax collector in England, and seeing the misery of the working class first-hand, he was aching for a social and political reform. He immigrated to North America in 1774 after a few personal situations that left him seeking a new reform. His humanitarian ideals can be seen in his pamphlets, the first one being “The Case of the Officers the Excise” published in 1772.

    Read More

  • Comparing The Declaration Of Independence And Thomas Jefferson

    260 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to the Declaration of Independence and Thomas Jefferson’s letter about Shay’s Rebellion, Jefferson would support modern day protests. Jefferson would support protests because in his letter, he states “What country before ever existed without a rebellion?” What he is saying is that every country has rebellions, there inevitable, and that countries shouldn’t fuss over them. Another quote from his letter is “The tree of liberty must be refreshened from time to time by the blood of patriots and tyrants.” What he is saying is that the tree of liberty, A.K.A, the government should be monitored to be as good and democratic as the people want it, A.K.A, must be refreshened from time to time.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The Declaration Of Independence And Locke's Second Treatise Of Government

    897 Words  | 4 Pages

    Declaration of Independence v. Locke’s 2nd Treatise of Government Locke wrote two treatises on government, but the focus is on his second treatise of government. The first treatise of government was a response to Robert Filmer’s patriarch and divine right of kings. He was in objection with Robert Filmer which led him to write the first treatise of government (Filmer, 2015). The second treatise focuses on not just refuting what he was against, but also a proposal of what a legitimate government looks like, in consent to the people. The audience is his fellow Englishmen, and Locke writes in a language at least in the 1690, very accessible.

    Read More

  • The Constitution: Betrayal Of The American Revolution

    1106 Words  | 5 Pages

    Thomas Jefferson in particular wrote the Declaration of Independence, which stated “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator

    Read More

  • Benjamin Franklin's Influence On The Enlightenment

    690 Words  | 3 Pages

    At the start of the 18th century, the beginning of the Enlightenment was upon America. There were many factors and people who help play a part in the Enlightenment or, in other words, the Age of Reason, some of the people that assisted the enlightenment was Thomas Jefferson, John Locke, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adam. Each of the philosophers demonstrates the fundamental idea of the Enlightenment like liberalism, rationalism, conservatism, toleration and scientific progress. Even though each person played an important part, the most influences person that was involved was Benjamin Franklin. Throughout Benjamin Franklin`s life, he demonstrates through his action and writing that he was the epitome of the Enlightenment by showing that he was

    Read More

More about Compare And Contrast Jefferson And Declaration Of Independence

Open Document