Notes on the Declaration of Independence

1. Declaration of
Independence

2. Who wrote the Declaration
of Independence?
• Thomas
Jefferson

3. Which philosopher influenced
Jefferson when writing the
Declaration of Independence?
• John Locke

4. What was the purpose
of the Declaration?
• To explain why
the colonists
wanted to
separate from
England

5. The Declaration was influenced
by what two documents?
• The Magna
Carta and the
English Bill of
Rights
• Both documents
had limited the
power of the

6. Who can the idea of natural
rights be traced back to?
• John Locke
• He felt everyone
had the rights to
life, liberty, and
the pursuit of
happiness