Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution

AP US History· difficulty 3/5

"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 whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it." — Declaration of Independence, 1776

Logic of the Declaration of Independence Natural rights (life, liberty, etc.) Government by consent Right to alter List of grievances vs. King George III ("absolute Despotism") Independence justified

Which Enlightenment thinker most directly inspired the structure of argument shown?

  • A

    John Locke

    check_circle
  • B

    Thomas Hobbes

  • C

    Jean Bodin

  • D

    Niccolo Machiavelli

Explanation

Locke's Second Treatise grounded government in natural rights and consent and recognized a right of revolution—exactly the chain of reasoning Jefferson borrowed.

Want 10 more like this — adaptive to your weak spots?

Related questions