john Locke's ideas on government, particularly the principles of natural rights and the social contract, are reflected in the Declaration of Independence. Locke argued that individuals possess inherent rights to life, liberty, and property, which Jefferson echoed in the Declaration by stating that all men are endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Additionally, Locke believed that governments derive their power from the consent of the governed and that citizens have the right to alter or abolish a government that fails to protect their rights, a central theme in Jefferson's justification for American independence from British rule.
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