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The Pros And Cons Of The Declaration Of Independence

Decent Essays

Following, numerous years of tension and issues, including unfair taxation, and unlawful restrictions, Great Britain and the colonies, underwent a revolution resulting in their separation. Through their new found freedom came the Declaration of Independence, a formal proclamation affirming the colonies to be ¨Free and Independent States.¨ The Declaration incorporates numerous ideas about government and people, many of which are found in John Locke's natural rights philosophy. Natural rights philosophy explains that all people, after leaving the state of nature, enter into a social contract with their government. In doing so they choose to give up some of their rights but gain protection and inalienable rights. The ideas formulated by John Locke and incorporated into the Declaration of Independence include the belief a person is afforded the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness regardless of their social status or wealth but by being a part of society. Another accumulated concept is the notion that a government derives its power to govern from the consent of the people when they enter into a social contract. Lastly, the power of the people to overthrow a government that fails to protect their unalienable rights was a part of natural rights philosophy incorporated into the Declaration. The Declaration of Independence was a significant component of early America as it sets the goals and ideas for the country as well advocating natural rights

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