Jefferson vs Locke
Trevor Hicks, Jeremy Goad, Garrett Yin
1
Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…”
Treatise of Civil Government “...the reason why men enter into society is the preservation of their property; and the end while they choose and authorize a legislative is that there may be laws made, and rules set, as guards and fences to the properties of all the society…”
These ideas are very similar in that every man (then they were talking about white, privileged men, but nowadays it refers to everyone) have equal rights.
2
The Declaration of Independence: “That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...”
Treatise of Civil Government: “And thus the common-wealth comes by a power to set down what punishment shall belong to the several transgressions which they think worthy of it, committed amongst the members of that society...”
The government is run by the common man, not the common man by government. These two ideas are parallel in that both men believe the power and rights should come from the citizens.
3
Declaration of Independence: “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...”
Treatise of Civil Government: “...for if it reach no farther than some private men's cases, though they have a right to defend themselves, and to recover by force what by unlawful force is taken from them...”
If the government fails it is up to the people to create a new one or, if the people decide the government is not doing the job that they want, to create one that would better suit their needs.