This post was originally published on a now-retired blog that I maintained from roughly 2005 to 2013. As a result, there may be some references that seem out of date.
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This one contains primary source materials of some of the writings and documents that influenced Thomas Jefferson and the other revolutionaries who wrote the Declaration.
Most of it is tedious and dull to the modern reader, but it did leave me with a few impressions.
Thomas Paine’s writing is more approachable than most, and can most easily be understood today. He was a real firebrand, practically calling for blood in the streets.
And man, did Jefferson and everyone owe a debt to John Locke. His writings on government contain all the ideas pushed forward in the Revolution, most notably that man in his natural state is free, and can voluntarily align himself with any society of other men and government that makes sense to him.
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This post appeared on Eric Lanke's blog, an association executive and author. You can contact him at eric.lanke@gmail.com.
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