We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
source
Originally posted by Infoholic
Christ's sake, and provide something credible to back your "theory".
Historical influences
Several of the ideas in the Constitution were new, and a large number of ideas were drawn from the literature of Republicanism in the United States, from the experiences of the 13 states, and from the British experience with mixed government. The most important influence from the European continent was from Montesquieu, who emphasized the need to have balanced forces pushing against each other to prevent tyranny. (This in itself reflects the influence of Polybius' second century BC treatise on the checks and balances of the constitution of the Roman Republic). John Locke is known to be a mild influence, and the due process clause of the United States Constitution was partly based on common law stretching back to the Magna Carta of 1215. Furthermore, Cyrus the Greats’ Charter of Human Rights had an astounding influence on western democracy, especially the Founding Fathers of America. As early nation builders, they were required to read two historical manuals on statesmanship and decide which system they wanted to implement. One was Machiavelli's 'The Prince’, an Italian philosopher who famously advocated a government based on fear and deceit, and who said “it is better to be feared than loved”. In stark contrast to Machiavelli, was ‘Cyropaedia’, meaning the Teachings of Cyrus, the Iranian King, which stated that government should be benevolent and that “it is better to be loved than feared”, the exact opposite of Machiavelli’s advocation. Today, there are half dozen copies of Cyropaedia found at the library of Congress in Washington, D.C., with one of many personal copies belonging to Thomas Jefferson. Judging by the U.S. Bill of Rights, there can be little doubt whose path of framers, of American’s constitution chose to follow.
en.wikipedia.org...
Originally posted by Mr Mxyztplk
Historical influences
Several of the ideas in the Constitution were new, and a large number of ideas were drawn from the literature of Republicanism in the United States, from the experiences of the 13 states, and from the British experience with mixed government. ......
en.wikipedia.org...
You either buy it or you don’t. the for man are by man.
