Week Two Notes: American Politics, Declaration of Independence, and John Locke

Introduction to American Politics and Government

  • Week Two focuses on the Declaration of Independence and John Locke.
  • Prior understanding of both documents is assumed.
  • Relevant excerpts from Locke's works are provided for context.
  • Students encouraged to read the documents before the lecture.

Constitutional Foundations

  • The Constitution is considered the foundation of American politics and government.
  • Understanding American government fundamentally requires understanding the Constitution.
  • The Declaration of Independence offers a lens through which to view the Constitution.
    • It articulates principles concerning the purpose and justification of government.
    • The Constitution operationalizes these principles, translating abstract ideas into practical governance.

Natural Rights and Government

  • John Locke significantly contributes to understanding the ideals expressed in the Declaration.
  • Key concepts introduced by Locke:
    • Natural Rights: Fundamental rights inherent to individuals, not granted by governments.
    • Purpose of Government: To protect these natural rights.
  • The distinction between a democracy and a constitutional republic is crucial.
    • Democracy: Rule by the people or majority rules.
    • Constitutional Republic: Governed by laws with constraints on power to protect individual rights.

Historical Context of the Constitutional Republic

  • The transition from British colonies (a monarchy) to an independent nation (The United States of America) in 1789 led to the establishment of a constitutional republic.
  • The Declaration provides a public justification for this separation, asserting foundational principles of American government.

Significance of the Declaration of Independence

  • The Declaration conveys crucial principles that underpin American governance:
    • "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…" (full text provided in notes).
  • The interpretation of self-evident truths is pivotal, highlighting principles that transcend time and place.
    • Examples include:
    • Truths like "two plus two equals four" represent undeniable facts.
    • The Declaration asserts that these truths were universally valid at all times, even if not universally practiced.
  • The declaration emphasizes:
    • That all men are equal in their natural rights.
    • The rights are endowed by their creator, highlighting a divine origin of rights, which predates government authority.
    • Rights are unalienable – cannot be taken away.

The Nature and Scope of Rights

  • Rights define the relationship between individuals:
    • Justifiable use of force is only applicable against those who infringe upon the natural rights of others.
  • The Declaration specifies three notable unalienable rights:
    • Life: Each person has the right to live and determine the quality of life.
    • Liberty: Freedom to pursue one's own life choices.
    • Pursuit of Happiness: The right to seek happiness, not guaranteed to achieve it, but to pursue it without interference.

Purpose and Formation of Government

  • Governments exist within the confines of rights to secure those rights:
    • Instituted among men to serve the purpose of securing unalienable rights.
  • The concept of consent of the governed is essential.
    • Just powers of government stem from the consent of the people.
    • This consent underlines the legitimacy of government actions.
  • Distinction between consent and mere majority rule:
    • Example of tyranny of the majority illustrates potential flaws in a pure democracy.
    • In a constitutional republic, consent is subject to foundational principles limiting government power.

Declaring Independence from Tyranny

  • The Declaration states the right of the people to alter or abolish any government that fails to protect their rights.
  • When the British monarchy became destructive to these rights, colonists were justified in their claims for independence.
    • The historical grievances against the crown included a long history of abuses and failure to protect the colonies' rights.

Philosophical and Historical Influences

  • Influences on the drafting of the Declaration stem from classical political thought:
    • Plato and Aristotle: Foundations of Western political thought surrounding societal organization.
    • Magna Carta: Established the idea of rights, albeit granted by the king, unlike the natural rights argument in the Declaration.
    • English Bill of Rights of 1689: Similar in rights but contrasting in the source of rights being from government rather than nature.

The Enlightenment and John Locke

  • Locke regarded as the father of liberalism and was crucial for American governmental principles:
    • Explored the state of nature, where individuals are free and equal without government.
    • Defined laws of nature governing human conduct based on reason.
    • Argued for the state of war created by unjustified force, justifying the establishment of government for protection.
  • Locke's work emphasizes that the legitimacy of political power must derive from the consent of the governed and highlight the importance of individual rights.

Conclusion and Implications for Modern Governance

  • The principles set forth in the Declaration and elucidated by Locke underpin the foundation of the United States system of government.
  • Ongoing discourse about interpreting rights, the purpose of government, and the balance between liberty, equality, and justice continues to be relevant and necessary for understanding contemporary American politics.