Many political philosophers and European doctrines of law influenced the U.S Constitution including Thomas Hobbes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and John Locke.
One major political philosopher whose ideas influenced the U.S Constitution is Thomas Hobbes. Thomas Hobbes is an English philosopher who is credited with developing theories behind the modern western political philosophy. Hobbes wrote a book that discusses the rights of individuals called the "Leviathan". The second paragraph of the U.S Constitution says " We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are the Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." This idea, that all men are equal, is inspired by none other than Thomas Hobbes.
Another great philosopher whose ideas influenced the U.S Constitution is Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Jean-Jacques Rousseau is a German philosopher and writer who greatly influenced the French Revolution. He wrote this in one of his works " Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains. Those who think themselves to be masters of others are greater slaves than they." This means that he believed men are free and equal and that enslaving other humans is wrong. But he also believed in a government where other individuals directed the form of. Therefore, Jean-Jacques Rousseau influenced our Constitution and our government.
John Locke is also an English philosopher who influenced our U.S Constitution. Locke is considered to be the Father of Classical Liberalism, he believed in the natural right to life, health, liberty, and possessions. It is his words and beliefs that encouraged the writing of our Declaration of Independence. So, Locke has shaped our history in more ways than one.
In conclusion, John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau are important philosopher thinkers who shaped our history and lives with their beliefs. After all, the U.S Constitution and its ideas along with the Declaration of Independence did not appear out of thin air.
