How did enlightenment ideas influence the Declaration of Independence?

Enlightenment ideas significantly influenced the Declaration of Independence by emphasizing concepts such as natural rights, social contract, and government by consent. Philosophers like john Locke argued that individuals possess inherent rights to life, liberty, and property, which the government must protect. These principles are reflected in the Declaration's assertion of unalienable rights and the right of the people to alter or abolish a government that fails to secure those rights. This philosophical foundation provided a rationale for the colonies' break from British rule and the establishment of a new, democratic government.