'Jefferson and Rousseau Influences\r'

'Thomas Jefferson considers himself a contributor to the Age of Enlightenment. Through objet darty of his writings he expands on the philosophies of the great European writers of that era †Rousseau, Locke, Hume, and Leibniz. In â€Å"The settlement of Independence,” Jefferson directly adopts several themes found in the work of French writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau’s â€Å"The tooth root of elegant Society,” provides a foundation for most of Jefferson’s ideas in â€Å"The Declaration of Independence. In the opening of the â€Å"Declaration of Independence,” Jefferson lays out several main themes that reflect Rousseaus conceptions. Jefferson borrows from Rousseaus opinion on comparability and disengagedom when writing, â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are invest by their Creator with certain inalienable reclaims…” (Jefferson 80).Rousseau speaks of equality by disproving the philosophies of Thomas Hobbes and Hugo Grotius. These men support the concept that â€Å"human race… refers only to a small, take away class of mass †the ruling class] (Rousseau 60). Rousseau thinks that the philosophies of these men inadequacy justification and that â€Å" each men are born(p) free, and everywhere he is in orbits” (Rousseau 59). All men are equal only until they pose got up their freedom and equality in alternate for comforts and protection in their lives. In early(a) words, Rousseau says man is born free, but because of society man become less and less free. The government, and its laws bind the plurality down, but the people gain benefits from the government.Jefferson sees to Rousseau in justifying colonial claims to independence. Jefferson writes, â€Å"Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the indemnify of the People to alter or abolish it…” (Jefferson 80). This refle cts Rousseaus idea that, [the only foundation left for legitimate office in human societies is Agreement] (Rousseau 61). Rousseau argues that all society exists because people have willingly granted rank and let to their ruler. When this agreement is broken, the ruling power is invalid.In â€Å"The Declaration of Independence,” Jefferson cites xxvi examples of meetions taken by the British monarchy that acts against the authority the American Colonies granted them. These form the basis of the declaration. Jefferson restates his thinking again saying, â€Å"A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be ruler of a free People. ” (Jefferson 83). Jefferson indirectly borrows from Rousseaus argument against Might into Right.Rousseau says that this thinking reverses the solve of cause and effect. â€Å"So soon as we disobey without impunity, disobedience becomes legitimate. And, since the Mightiest is always properl y, it merely remains for us to become possessed of Might” (Rousseau 62). In this transit Rousseau contends that might, or strength, is not a moral sanction. Rousseau contends that â€Å"Right” to govern can change when it is compromised. Jefferson uses this same edge of thinking to rationalize the separation of the colonies from the British crown. barely when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing eer the same Object evinces a design to repress them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such(prenominal) government, and to provide new Guards for their future security” (Jefferson 80,81). Jefferson contends that the chain of abuses brought by the British crown has compromised their moral authority and therefore, their â€Å"Right” to rule over the colonies. In Jeffersons mind, the physiological â€Å"Might” of the British is controversial in considering the colonies right to establish a new governmen t.Interestingly, there is some former(a) luck for Jefferson to incorporate Rousseaus philosophies into the declaration. Rousseau talks about thrall as an institution in â€Å"The Origin of Civil Society. ” The original draft of the Declaration refers to the British crowns ingress of slavery in the United States as wizard of the immoral principles justifying independence from the monarchy. In other words, â€Å" unrivaled of the fundamental paradoxes of Jefferson’s personal and political demeanor has been his attitude toward slavery. ” (Jacobus77).Jeffersons position and actions on slavery have become the most controversial aspects of his legacy. It is not impress that Rousseaus philosophies lead to the beginnings of both the American and French revolution. Jefferson and the other members of the Continental Congress have become unresolved of molding these thoughts into a document that will act as a philosophical outline for the invention of the United Sta tes. The Declaration of Independence allows the founding fathers an opportunity to build on some of the Puritan ethics of the founding new\r\n'