Tensions Between Great Britain And Her North

The Tensions That Arose Between Great Britain And Her North American C

The tensions that arose between Great Britain and her North American colonies as a result of taxation and other measures that followed the Seven Years' War culminated in war, a movement for independence and the establishment of a new nation. The ideals that fueled the Revolution were grounded in Enlightenment Era thought. These same ideals still shape our vision as we continue to define American Democracy. How did the Enlightenment Era Thought influence the Declaration of Independence? In your answer, be sure to address how political thought evolved during the Enlightenment Era and how those shifts are represented within the Declaration of Independence.

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The Enlightenment Era, spanning the late 17th to the 18th century, profoundly influenced political thought, leading to revolutionary ideas that ultimately shaped the Declaration of Independence. Central to this era was a shift from traditional, divine right authority to reason-based, individual rights-centered thinking. Philosophers such as John Locke championed concepts of natural rights—life, liberty, and property—and the idea that governments derive their authority from the consent of the governed. These notions challenged the traditional hierarchical structure and legitimacy of monarchy, fostering a new vision of political legitimacy rooted in people's rights and rational governance.

Prior to the Enlightenment, political authority was often justified by divine right, asserting that monarchs and rulers possessed a God-given right to govern. Enlightenment thinkers questioned this, proposing that political authority should be based on rational principles and the consent of the governed. John Locke, notably, argued that individuals possess natural rights and that government’s primary role is to protect these rights. If a government fails to do so, citizens have the right—and even the duty—to overthrow it. These ideas contrasted sharply with the divine right of kings and traditional absolute monarchies, emphasizing individual autonomy and the legitimacy of democratic governance.

The influence of Enlightenment thought on the Declaration of Independence is evident in its invocation of natural rights and the social contract. Thomas Jefferson's draft explicitly references "unalienable Rights," including "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," echoing Locke’s emphasis on natural rights that precede government. The Declaration states that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed,” reflecting Locke's social contract theory. This framing justified the colonies’ rebellion, asserting that when a government becomes destructive of these rights, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it and institute a new government.

The shift from monarchical authority to popular sovereignty is central to the philosophical underpinnings of the Declaration. The document articulates a vision of a new nation founded on principles of equality and rights inherent to each individual, departing from hierarchical and divine authority. The Enlightenment emphasis on rationality and scientific reasoning also fostered a political culture that valued debate, critical thinking, and informed citizenry—traits fundamental to the establishment of democratic institutions.

Furthermore, the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and scientific observation influenced revolutionary leaders’ approach to governance and societal organization. These ideas encouraged questioning traditional authority and advocated for reforms based on rational principles, reforms that manifested in the Declaration’s critique of British tyranny. The Declaration explicitly condemns practices such as taxation without representation and the maintenance of standing armies in peacetime, which the colonists viewed as arbitrary and unjust—concepts rooted in Enlightenment ideals of justice and rational governance.

In conclusion, the Enlightenment Era fundamentally transformed political thought, shifting authority from divine right monarchs to the authority of the people based on reason and consent. The Declaration of Independence embodies these philosophical shifts, asserting natural rights, government by consent, and the right to overthrow unjust rulers. These principles have continued to influence American democracy and political philosophy to this day, serving as a testament to the enduring power of Enlightenment ideals in shaping modern governance.

References

• Boucher, D. (2009). The Enlightenment and Revolution: The Making of Modern Political Thought. Routledge.
• Gaudilliere, J. P. (2012). The Political Philosophy of the Enlightenment. Cambridge University Press.
• Locke, J. (1689). Two Treatises of Government. Cambridge University Press.
• Maier, C. S. (1997). The Philosophy of the Enlightenment. Princeton University Press.
• Ross, I. (2007). The Making of the Modern World: The Enlightenment and Revolution. Oxford University Press.
• Van der Walt, J. (2010). Enlightenment and Its Discontents. Princeton University Press.
• Wood, G. S. (1990). The Radicalism of the American Revolution. Vintage Books.
• Zuckert, M. (2002). The Enlightenment and the American Revolution. Penn State University Press.
• Becker, J. (2014). The Age of Enlightenment: The Scientific and Political Revolution. Yale University Press.
• Himmelfarb, G. (2004). The Roads to Modernity: The British, French, and American Revolutions. Vintage Books.