The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, and The Second Treatise on Civil Government by John Locke, are two similar works. Locke’s work seems to have had an influence on Jefferson when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. Both works were written on government, what it should and should not be. Locke brings the view that the state exists to preserve the natural rights of its citizens. When governments fail in that task, …showed first 75 words of 1549 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1549 total…the needs and wants of society. It is very clear that both works on how government should and should not be are similar and that Jefferson was greatly influenced by Locke’s, The Second Treatise on Civil Government, when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. Bibliography Endnotes: 1. Paul Light, A Delicate Balance (St. Martin’s Press, New York, 1996), pages A1-A3 2. John Locke, The Second Treatise on Civil Government (Prometheus Books, New York, 1986), pages 7-22