Declaration of Independence and The Second Treatise of Government

The Declaration of Independence is just as its title states; a paper which states the intentions of the United States of America to become independent from Britain in governing its people. The Declaration of Independence states the British government has committed “abuses and usurpations” to the people and states that when a government does so it should be overruled. This is followed by a long list of injustices the current British government has performed on the people. It is then signed by several representatives of the United States of America.

The Second Treatise on Government by John Locke is a theory of government. John Locke explains that humans are born with rights, as does the Declaration of Independence when it states “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Locke believes that god is the ultimate ruler, he states this several times in his attempt to detail each and every freedom and law humans live by. Locke also explains that humans come together to make a social contract known as government since they are unhappy with the current state of existence and in doing so give up a few rights born with.



References

Locke, John. Second Treatise of Government. 1690. Retrieved on October 27, 2007 from: http://ecampus.uwyo.edu/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=2609764&47=1126592&dt=10%2F22%2F2006+8%3A32%3A12+PM&UnitNumber=9&COID=57&UDPK=23683081&UPK=4490939&bhcp=1

Jefferson, T. (1776). Declaration of Independence. Retrieved on October 27, 2007 from: http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/declaration_transcript.html