Regardless, the Declaration of Independence drew upon [[Christianity]] and the Enlightenment English philosopher [[John Locke]]. In his famous work "Two Treatises on Government" (1690), Locke declared that all men have the natural (inalienable) rights of "life, liberty and estate (property)." [[Adam Smith]], the great economist, modified this to be "life, liberty and the pursuit of property." Notably the Declaration of Independence does not emphasize a right to pursue property, however, speaking instead in favor of pursuit of "happiness". | Regardless, the Declaration of Independence drew upon [[Christianity]] and the Enlightenment English philosopher [[John Locke]]. In his famous work "Two Treatises on Government" (1690), Locke declared that all men have the natural (inalienable) rights of "life, liberty and estate (property)." [[Adam Smith]], the great economist, modified this to be "life, liberty and the pursuit of property." Notably the Declaration of Independence does not emphasize a right to pursue property, however, speaking instead in favor of pursuit of "happiness". |