Locke vs Jefferson
By Erika Lozano, Andrea Rodriguez, Lexi Nail
5 similarities
1
- Lock used the phrase Life, Liberty, and Property" and a less than a century later, Thomas Jefferson uses the phase "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness". Both want to be free, but Jefferson was just talking about the salves when he meant "Pursuit of Happiness".
-"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"
Which I believe that they are saying is that every man in America should be free no matter what race, sexuality, religion, ect. We are equal.
2
- John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government and Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of -Independence are two of the most influential writings of all time.
-"Sec. 220. In these and the like cases, 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."
Does this work?
John Locke was a huge influence on all of Thomas Jefferson's philosophical thoughts and ideals. If you research anything on Locke, you can see where many of Jefferson's ideas and such came from. Which make these the most influential writings of all time.
3
- Both writings is that they are strongly focused on the belief that all men are created equal and have the right to happiness.
-"Sec. 4. To understand political power right, and derive it from its original, we must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man."
They believed that no matter what every man had an equal right. Around this time they were talking about slavary, and they believed that no one should be able to own another man, but to be able to work like everyone else.
4
- Both works state that no one person is above or superior to another person.
- "Sec. 4 A state also of equality, wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another; there being nothing more evident, than that creatures of the same species and rank, promiscuously born to all the same advantages of nature, and the use of the same faculties. . ."
That no one could really over rule you unless they have some sort of form that says they can. For example a police officer they have a reason that they can tell you what to do because it's there job, even though some times it isn't far. Another example could be your parents they are telling you what is right and wrong.
5
- Also they state that those natural rights can’t be taken away.
- "Sec. 220. In these and the like cases, 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."
We have the right to speak our rights to the government. Even though many may not agree to what we are saying all the time but at least we have a chance to get heard.
What I believe
Erika Lozano
What I mostly believe in is the phrase Locke wrote "Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness". Because, just that phrase give us the right to do anything, doesn't matter what you believe in just the fact you have the right too. Doesn't matter what color of your skin is, race, sexuality, religion, etc. Jefferson wrote it because it was during the time slavery was going on and he believe every man should be free. I also believe in that "they state that those natural rights can’t be taken away" We the people have the right to vote on what we agree and disagree on. Every one has their different opinions on certain things and that's why our voices should be heard.
Andrea Rodriguez
I think that "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness". Is one of the most important phrases in the phrases that Locke wrote. This is because without life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness out society wouldn't be like it is now. There would have been more chaos.Lexi Nail
I think this is an important quote because most kids today don't know what political party they truly are. The kids grow up and become voters themselves and subconsciously don't realize that the frame work of their childhood has shaped them into how they vote. It is hard to get out of that old form of habits of following what their parents instead of shaping themselves.