Declaration of Denegation or was that Dependence?

There are only a couple of significant differences that stood out for me between these two similar documents. In the Declaration of Independence after the second paragraph is where a list of accusations that was directed at King George III, but was addressed as the current King of Britain. In contrast, Locke’s Second Treatise do not have any real persons mentioned for directed dissatisfactions.

The second difference is slavery. This is where Locke believed that it was a circumstantial occurence between a conqueror and their captive such as through the practice of war. However, this does not make much sense nor does it make it right for any man to force indigenous people into slavery regardless of any idea concerning causes and effects. (Locke, John. 1690).

Jefferson was against slavery and further claimed that he was not able to free them because of some of the state representatives would not sign the Declaration unless Jefferson agreed to change one part of the document concerning the British support that could affect a slave’s freedom. (Jefferson, Thomas). In addition he also knew that he as well as other slave owners had grown dependent on the financial gain resulting from slavery. The only resolution I have for these two different ideas is that both Locke and Jefferson being pillars in their society could have been more proactive about the situation by not owning any slaves or supporting the act of trade in the first place. It is a simple enough act that could have caused a trend of humanity much sooner than waiting for the Civil War to end a needless and cruel bondage, but instead pride and greed kept slavery stagnant.


References

Locke, John. Second Treatise of Government. 1690. Chapter IV
http://ecampus.uwyo.edu/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=2609764&CPURL=ecampus.uwyo.edu&Survey=1&47=3700851&ClientNodeID=8216&coursenav=0&bhcp=1

Jefferson, Thomas. The Declaration of Independence. 1776. http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/declaration_transcript.html

Jefferson, Thomas. Declaration of Independence: Right to Institute New Government. 1776 http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/jeffdec.html