How Did Enlightenment Ideas Influence Thomas Jefferson

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How Did Enlightenment Ideas Influence Thomas Jefferson

The American Revolution is regarded as one of the first steps in the still unfinished process of demolishing the imperial structures present in the early modern era. The so-called English Identity that had brought the colonists together was fading by the eve of the Revolution. Undergoing decades of domestic strife and facing neglect by the British compelled the colonists to develop strategies for self-government. The three-thousand-mile distance and the absence of communications between the colonies also gave rise to the growth of distinct identities. Inspired by the striking uniqueness of the American lands motivated the rise of an independent spirit – there was a united feeling, a desire to be free from the controls and restraints of the British. The arrival of German, Scottish, Dutch, and Irish settlers only helped to lessen the influence of the English before the war. Political rhetorics of that time show the slow formation of a uniquely American identity. In a piece written by Jefferson in a Summary View of the Rights of British America, he quite convincingly makes a distinction, arguing that the colonists were different from the British.

The spark that ignited the revolution was the various acts, namely sugar, stamp, and Townshend Act that imposed heavier taxes on various items, which the colonists thought were highly exploitative and there was also a disconnect in terms of identity between the colonists and the British, hence the revolution was inevitable, however, some commentators argue that more than an actual revolution, the revolution was more of the mind and how various concepts were perceived. This is said mainly because of the great impact Enlightenment ideals have had on the Declaration of independence and the bill of Rights.

The Enlightenment introduced new firm beliefs about the nature of authority and the role of an individual in the government. Lockes ideas regarding life, liberty, and property as natural rights, something that could never be withdrawn or given up by people, and that it was the governments duty to protect and defend these inalienable rights formed the social contract. He concluded by saying that if the government abuses its authority, the people have the right to overthrow it and create a new political system. Jefferson derived the ideals stated in the Declaration from Locke. Lockes conception of natural rights was adopted by Jefferson to give a reason for revolt. The protection granted to individual rights is established by the Bill of Rights which was again derived from Lockes conception of natural rights

Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Voltaire were strong advocates for a limited government. Deriving from these enlightenment ideals, these limited governments became representative democracies where citizens chose leaders to represent them at a national level. A constitution based on popular sovereignty was to create a limited government where a clear-cut relationship between the citizens and the government was established. It embodied Lockes conception of the social contract. They gave the basis for the working of legislative, executive, and judicial organs – this idea again originated from Montesquieus. He was against the idea of one large government institution being in charge of the enforcement of every aspect of law and so he proposed the idea of separation of powers. Through a system of checks and balances, the possibility of one branch gaining absolute power over the others was minimized.

Rousseau strongly advocated the promotion of the common good or the common will – doing the best for the majority of the population and ruling by virtue of a general will. This concept was termed popular sovereignty.

The Declaration of Independence asserted that all men are created equal, and that all people have inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

it was more of an ideological revolution, and though ideas from the Enlightenment are greatly reflected in the Declaration of independence and the bill of Rights, they werent fully implemented, for instance, equality, liberty, and freedom were only granted to a privileged few, not to women, native Americans or people of color.

To conclude the Enlightenment provided the necessary ideas for the philosophical basis of the American Revolution. It was not just a revolt against the authority of the British but also gave a foundation for the establishment of a democratic society.

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