The Preamble And The Declaration Of Independence Analysis

Nothing is more thought provoking than how the past can affect the future. Because of the conditions that they grew up in, John Locke, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Voltaire would have had different viewpoints on human nature. Some would admire it and aspire to uphold the laws and duties that were proclaimed in said writing while others would find small injustices within its words. Between these three individuals, their responses to the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence would be both similar and contrasting due to a number of reasons concerning both government and human society.
John Locke’s life and societal philosophies had an impact not only on England but on the rest of the world as well. He met the Earl of Shaftsbury while studying …show more content…
John Locke’s social contract is similar to the Preamble in the sense that both require the government to listen to the people and be subject to its laws. As well as this, the rulers are entrusted to uphold the law and protect the life, liberty, and property of its citizens. This theory can be found in another line from the Preamble, “that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”. The vision of individualism within the structure of the law of nature is integrated heavily within Locke’s book Two Treatises of Government as well as in the Declaration of …show more content…
His troubles with the French authorities were caused by his satirical writings. In 1726 he offended the Chevalier de Rohan and was exiled to England. Little did he know that living there would greatly influence his ideas. Because of his time in England, Voltaire developed an admiration for Britain’s constitutional monarchy and began to write about it while simultaneously antagonizing France’s political system. Voltaire wrote thousands of cynical poems and novels which included his most famous piece of work, Candide. This book tried to steer society into a course where man is able to find moral virtue through reason. Continuing this trend, his philosophies were nearly as outspoken as his writings. Voltaire believed that improvement of society was crucial for the progress of humanity; however, he thought that reform could only be temporary. As an avid Deist, he didn’t think that absolute faith was needed to believe in God. He wrote that "It is perfectly evident to my mind that there exists a necessary, eternal, supreme, and intelligent being. This is no matter of faith, but of reason". Voltaire advocated for a universe based on reason and a respect for