The Declaration of Independence and the Two Treatises of Government are two of the most important political documents in Western history. Both documents are foundational to the development of modern democratic thought and have been used to justify revolutions and wars for independence. However, there are also significant differences between the two documents.
Similarities
-Both documents are based on the idea of natural rights. This idea holds that all people are born with certain inherent rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and property. These rights are not granted by the government, but rather are possessed by individuals from birth.
-Both documents argue that the government's only legitimate purpose is to protect these natural rights. Governments that fail to do so can rightfully be overthrown by the people.
-Both documents emphasize the importance of consent in the formation of government. The Declaration of Independence states that "governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." The Two Treatises of Government argues that "the only way whereby any one derives the authority to be governor of others, is from their own consent."
Differences
-The Declaration of Independence is more focused on the rights of the individual, while the Two Treatises of Government is more focused on the structure and function of government.
-The Declaration of Independence emphasizes the right to revolution, while the Two Treatises of Government emphasizes the importance of due process of law.
-The Declaration of Independence is a shorter and more concise document, while the Two Treatises of Government is a longer and more philosophical work.
Influence
The Declaration of Independence and the Two Treatises of Government have had a profound influence on the development of modern political thought. The ideas expressed in these documents have been used to justify revolutions and wars for independence, as well as to shape the constitutions of many modern countries. Both documents remain essential reading for anyone who is interested in understanding the history and development of democracy.