What philosophical idea influenced Jefferson while writing the Declaration of Independence?

The correct answer is based on the influence of John Locke’s philosophy of natural rights, which significantly shaped Thomas Jefferson's writing of the Declaration of Independence. Locke's concept of natural rights posits that individuals possess inherent rights to life, liberty, and property simply by being human. Jefferson adopted this framework, articulating that individuals are entitled to certain unalienable rights that cannot be taken away by governments.

In the Declaration, Jefferson famously states that people have the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," echoing Locke's ideas. This philosophical grounding provided a moral justification for the colonies' break from British rule, as it asserted that governments are instituted to protect these rights and that they derive their power from the consent of the governed. If a government fails to protect these rights, the people have the right to alter or abolish it. Thus, the influence of Locke's natural rights philosophy is a cornerstone of the document and American political thought.