Question

a. foundational ideas and documents (ss.912.cg.1.1–1.4)

1. analyze documents (ss.912.cg.1.1, 1.2): john locke claimed government exists to protect natural rights. thomas hobbes believed men are inherently \evil\ and require a strong government for protection. explain how the ideas of john locke regarding natural rights and the social contract influenced the core argument of the declaration of independence.

Explanation:

1. John Locke's Natural Rights and Social Contract: Locke proposed that individuals have natural rights (life, liberty, property) and government is formed via social contract to protect these rights. If government fails, people can revolt.
2. Influence on the Declaration of Independence: The Declaration’s core argument (e.g., “unalienable Rights” to “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,” and the right to abolish a tyrannical government) mirrors Locke’s ideas. The social contract idea underlies the colonists’ claim that Britain violated their rights, justifying independence.
3. Contrast with Hobbes (Context): Hobbes saw people as “evil” needing strong government, but Locke’s focus on natural rights and limited government (with consent) shaped the Declaration’s emphasis on individual rights and government’s duty to protect them.

Answer:

John Locke's ideas on natural rights (life, liberty, property) and the social contract (government exists by consent to protect rights; people may revolt if it fails) influenced the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration asserts "unalienable Rights" (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness) and the right to abolish a government violating these, echoing Locke’s social contract and natural rights theory.