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Dbq Essay On The Declaration Of Independence

1024 Words5 Pages

US citizens were feeling the effects of a government that didn’t protect their individual rights. People were unhappy that their government gave special privileges to some, and taxed people unfairly. They felt that in order to improve living conditions and to right-size their government, they needed revolutionary change. A tenet central to this revolution included the right to be free and equal, while limiting government power. A number of documents created by the great thinkers of the day explained four core ideas, which became the cornerstones for change. These ideas included, 1) Government abuse or tyranny should not be tolerated 2) Humans have inalienable rights, 3) Government power should belong to the people and 4) Societal contracts with government must be fair. The following documents explained these concepts in detail and supported the revolutionary period, spreading the ideas to current and future generations. John Locke wrote the Two Treatises on Government, which outlined abuses of government power. The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson among others, described humans’ inalienable rights. The Social Contract, by Rousseau puts forth the idea …show more content…

These unalienable rights gave people a frame of mind of what they wish was best fitted for them. This also provided a sense for revolution. In the Declaration of Independence, it states that, “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 pursuit of Happiness.” (Jefferson 1) In short, the government shouldn't take these things away from you. In the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen, the first declaration is, “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights Social distinctions may be based only on common utility.” (Lafayette 1) Meaning, men are born with rights that lawmakers cannot

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