Rousseau’s Influence On Jefferson Essay, Research Paper

An Examination of Rousseau’s Influence on Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson considered himself a contributor to the Age of Enlightenment. Through many of his writings he expounded upon the philosophies of the great European writers of that era – Rousseau, Locke, Hume, and Leibniz. Jefferson’s Notes on Virginia, pamphlet A Summary View of the Rights of British America, and many of his letters adopted Enlightenment philosophy to the American colonies and the challenges they faced in declaring independence from the British crown and creating a new republic. In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson directly adopted many themes found in the work of French writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In this paper I will explore several ways in which Rousseau’s The Origin of Civil Society provides a foundation for much of Jefferson’s ideas in the declaration.

In the opening of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson lays out several main themes that reflect Rousseau’s concepts. Jefferson borrowed from Rousseau’s thinking on equality and freedom when he wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights” (Jefferson 76). Rousseau spoke of equality by refuting the philosophies of Thomas Hobbes and Hugo Grotius. These men supported the notion that the term “human race” referred only to a small, select class of people – the ruling class (Rousseau 56). Rousseau thought the philosophies of these men lacked justification, that “All men are born free, and everywhere he is in chains” (Rousseau 55). All men are equal until they give up their freedom and equality in exchange for comforts and protection.

Jefferson looked to Rousseau in justifying colonial claims to independence. Jefferson writes, “whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it” (Jefferson 76). This reflects Rousseau’s thinking, “the only foundation left for legitimate authority in human societies is Agreement” (Rousseau 58). Rousseau contends that all society exists because people have willingly granted rank and privilege to its rulers. When this agreement is breached, the ruling power is void. In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson cites twenty-six examples of actions taken by the British monarchy that acted against the authority the American Colonies granted them. These form the basis of the declaration. Jefferson restates his thinking again in paragraph 30, “A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be ruler of a free People” (Jefferson 78).

Jefferson obliquely borrows from Rousseau’s argument against Might into Right. Rousseau said this thinking reverses the process of cause and effect. “So soon as we disobey without impunity, disobedience becomes legitimate. And, since the Mightiest is always right, it merely remains for us to become possessed of Might” (Rousseau 58). In this passage Rousseau contends that might, or strength, is not a moral sanction. Rousseau contends that “Right” to govern can change when it is compromised. Jefferson uses this same line of thinking to rationalize the separation of the colonies from the British crown. “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new Guards for their future security” (Jefferson 76). Jefferson contends that the chain of abuses brought by the British crown has compromised their moral authority and therefore, their “Right” to rule over the colonies. In Jefferson’s mind, the physical “Might” of the British is moot in considering the colonies’ right to establish a new government.

Interestingly, there was another opportunity for Jefferson to incorporate Rousseau’s philosophies. Unfortunately, it did not make it into the final text of the Declaration. Rousseau spoke at length about slavery as an institution. The original draft of the Declaration referred to the British crown’s introduction of slavery in the United States as one of the immoral principles justifying independence from the monarchy (O’Brien). Jefferson’s position and actions on slavery have become the most controversial aspects of his legacy. Though this was a golden opportunity for Jefferson to influence the slavery debate to come, the Continental Congress deleted this text after a great deal of debate.

It is not surprising that Rousseau’s philosophies led to the beginnings of both the American and French revolution. Jefferson and the other members of the Continental Congress were able to mold these thoughts into a document that would act as a philosophical template for the founding of the United States. The Declaration of Independence allowed the founding fathers an opportunity to build upon some of the Puritan ethics our country was founded on to justify their independence and establish a republic based on democracy and personal freedom from government oppression.

WORKS CITED

Jacobus, Lee A., Ed. A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers New York: Bedford Books, 1998.

O’Brien, Conon Cruise “Thomas Jefferson: Radical and Racist.” Atlantic Monthly On-line (Oct 1996): Oct 1996 .