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The Influences Behind American Independence: John Locke and Thomas Paine

Explore how Enlightenment philosopher John Locke and pamphleteer Thomas Paine inspired the Founding Fathers, including Thomas Jefferson, in their quest for independence from Great Britain. Locke's concepts of natural rights, social contracts, and government accountability shaped American beliefs in self-government. Thomas Paine's impactful pamphlet "Common Sense" challenged monarchy and argued for equal rights and the necessity of an American constitution. Understanding their ideas provides crucial insight into the ideological foundations of the American Revolution.

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The Influences Behind American Independence: John Locke and Thomas Paine

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Big Question: • Who influenced Thomas Jefferson and the rest of the founding fathers to get independence from Great Britain? • Thomas Paine and John Locke

  2. No, not that John Locke!

  3. The Ideas of John Locke • John Locke was an Enlightenment philosopher whose ideas influenced the American belief in self-government.

  4. The Ideas of John Locke • Locke wrote that: • All people are free, equal, and have “natural rights” of life, liberty, and property that rulers cannot take away. • Government and people in a contract: • People agree to respect the laws • Government agrees to respect people’s rights

  5. Locke’s Social Contract

  6. The Ideas of John Locke • Government and people are in a contract • People respect/follow laws • Government respects peoples’ rights • If the government violates people’s rights, that government has lost its right to govern the people • Therefore, people have nnn the right to overthrow their government

  7. Thomas Paine andCommon Sense • Thomas Paine was an English immigrant to America who produced a pamphlet known as Common Sense that challenged the rule of the American colonies by the King of England • Common Sense was read and acclaimed by many American colonists during the mid-1700s and contributed to independence from Britain

  8. Common Sense (Jan. 1776)

  9. So what did Common Sense say? • All men are created equal; therefore, kings and queens should not be in power • American colonies should have an American Constitution; British laws only benefit Britain • America is not just a British nation; it’s a nation of other immigrants and nations in power (Netherlands, France, Germany, etc.) • If England goes to war, the colonies suffer. Why?

  10. Paine’s best argument? • Even if Britain were the "mother country" of America, that made her actions all the more horrendous. • In other words, what mother would treat her children so badly?

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