Just a little history after reading the Declaration of Independence posted by 'thestephymore'.

I love our founding documents... how can I not, I do after all have a Bachelor's in Political Science. After I re-read our Declaration of Independence that 'thestephymore' posted, I felt a lil inspired to give a history blurb.

The Declaration of Independence was influenced by 17th and 18th century ideas that expressed the desire for independence from Great Britain. However, before the Declaration of Independence was even a glimmer in anyone’s eyes, the Mayflower Compact, written nearly 150 years before the Constitution, showed a belief that covenants were not only to be honored between God and man, but also between each other. The compact is evidence of an America that began with men honoring God and using the founding principles of the Bible. They lived their lives with honesty, reliability, and fairness toward establishing this country “for the sake of its survival.” The Mayflower Compact has been referred to as the foundation of the U.S. Constitution.

The intent of the Declaration of Independence was to produce support for independence from Great Britain based on the “natural rights” position. A major influence on the drafting of the Declaration of Independence is Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” where he attacked the British constitution and thus demanded a Republican form of government. This Republican form of government can be seen in the Declaration of Independence with the heavy emphasis on “Laws of Nature,” and “Nature’s God” entitling the people to control their government. Paine’s belief was that the people had the right to shape their society to their liking. Right in line with Paine was Samuel Adams who also sought to establish an egalitarian and democratic social order. These belief’s are clearly seen in the Declaration of Independence and are thus extremely influential in its design.

Other major influences were John Wise whose democratic principles called for both a religious and civil government in "Vindication of the Government of the New England Churches", and John Locke who was influenced by the Magna Carta. He attacked the theory of the divine right of kings and believed that government’s obligation was to protect the rights of its citizens (life, liberty, and property). Thomas Jefferson, the principle drafter of the Declaration of Independence, adopted the Lockean natural rights doctrine in promoting democracy and independence. John Winthrop on the other hand believed that the government should be run by a select few that were not controlled by the people but rather by the rules of God’s law. He believed that all men having liberty would eventually lead to evil. Winthrop’s belief’s do not appear to have been a major influence on the Declaration of Independence in any way other than to aid in the drafter’s giving detailed clarity on the right’s of man, and the counterbalancing of government actions and control.

All men believed that covenant’s were the correct way to hold a society together. They all believed that the rights of government and the people should be spelled out carefully for all to read. The most influential aspect is that most believed that the people should control their government and in doing so would end the mixed government, monarchy rule.