Ap World History Dbq Analysis

Sovereignty, administrative legitimacy, and rights of the commoner are three elements of modern America that have transcended decades preceding the enactment of the declaration of independence, and the preamble of the constitution. Yet, where did the founding fathers such as Thomas Jefferson, derive their knowledge for these pivotal elements to our great nation? Examining jurisprudence of the Greco-Roman eras, and a 17th century revolutionizing England, fragments from the ideals of Greco-Roman philosophers like Aristotle, and Revolutionary philosophers such as John Locke are illuminated in the founding documents. Without the discoveries, mistakes, and knowledge garnered through these eras, individuals, and events, the United States may otherwise …show more content…
Although not directly political at its origin, the reformation inspired a challenging and securing of the legitimacy of old and new sovereign power. (Topic 8 Reformation, Studebaker) The revolutionizing England prioritized separation, and dismantlement of the absolute monarchs. During the 17th century revolution, philosophical minds, and the uproar for diplomatic changed, legitimized the motives of the framers in their eventual separation, and search for a sovereign, legitimate government. One philosopher, John Locke, provided the Glorious Revolution with legitimacy through his Treatises on Civil Government.(Topic 9 Legitimized, Studebaker) Lockean ideology has become a cornerstone in western liberal democracy as it is the effective, and compelling reasoning against unjust government. Jefferson discloses, Lockean ideology lays behind the constitution, and contributes the most obvious source of the natural rights teachings (Arnhart, pg.5). Locke’s trinity: “life, liberty and property” was altered into the famous line of Jefferson- replacing property with justice. Locke proclaimed property as an irrevocable, inalienable element of the individual, as it cannot be given up; therefore, it is immune to government intervention. Similarly, to Jefferson's “pursuit of happiness”, as this cannot taken from an individual, and is the freedom born with an individual. Likewise to a Lockean perspective on rights, Thomas Hobbes contributed to the implementation of inalienable rights, and limited government. Although Hobbes’s notion of government with absolute power was rejected by the framers, his idea of avoiding a ungovern society was not. As he describes the “natural state of man” being the greatest evil that can happen”(Arnhart,

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