Similar Yet Different

The writings of John Locke and Thomas Jefferson are extremely similar yet different. This stems from the fact that Jefferson and the others who wrote the Declaration of Independence, based much of their ideas from Locke’s work. His work, the Second Treatise on Government, was also used in the writing of the American Constitution. The fundamental ideas of the Second Treatise, and the Declaration of Independence, are the same. Fundamental ideas include natural rights, and property. Differences between the Second Treatise and the Declaration include audience and purpose.

Similarities between both documents center around fundamental ideas. The concept of natural rights was what Locke built all his arguments upon. This idea states that in nature, there is no organized governing body, but everyone is equal, and are free to do as they please as long as they don’t infringe on anyone else’s rights (Locke 1690). Property is also an integral concept in Locke’s treatise. Locke defines property in the following manor, "labour of his body, and the work of his hands, we may say, are properly his. Whatsoever then he removes out of the state that nature hath provided, and left it in, he hath mixed his labour with, and joined to it something that is his own, and thereby makes it his property" (Section 27). Though the Declaration does not define or expound on these ideas; however they are present none the less in the wording and in the underlying premise of the piece.

Differences between the Second Treatise on Government and the Declaration of Independence exist despite the similarities between them. Both pieces were directed towards large audiences of the general population. However, in writing the Second Treatise, Locke specifically directed his writing towards the populace of England in hopes of moving them to overthrow the current king. The Declaration was written specifically to the King of England. Locke intended his piece, according to SparkNotes, to "justify the opposition to Charles II" (2006). The Declaration was intended to inform England of the Colonies’ intent "to dissolve the political bands which [had] connected them with another" (Declaration of Independence).

Though written for different purposes and audiences, both the Second Treatise on Government and the Declaration of Independence have much in common. This is because the authors of the Declaration used Locke’s ideas as their justifications.

References

Locke, J. (1690). Second Treatise on Government. Retrieved on October 26, 2007, from http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/texts/locke/locke2/2nd-contents.html.

Jefferson, T. (1776). Declaration of Independence. Retrieved on October 23, 2007 from http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/declaration_transcript.html.

SparkNotes. (2006). Locke’s Second Treatise on Civil Government. Retrieved on October 24, 2007, from http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/locke/index.html.