Department
History, Philosophy and Political Science
Location
Bethel University
Document Type
Poster
Start Date
2-25-2026 3:00 PM
End Date
2-25-2026 5:00 PM
Abstract
Locke-ing and Un-Locke-ing the Declaration of Independence is a book project completed by Politics Professor Lynn Uzzell and two of her former students; it was generously funded by Bethel University’s Edgren Grant for faculty-student collaboration. The book provides an introduction to Jefferson’s philosophy of revolution, with a special focus on its connections to Locke’s writing in his Second Treatise. Each chapter tackles just one line from the second paragraph of the Declaration. The book’s examination of 14 discrete claims within the Declaration, along with a deleted 15th section, demonstrates that the Declaration is heavily indebted to the Second Treatise but also contains meaningful departures. The book is written with the general reader in mind. Even if readers have never encountered political theory before, this one book should provide a faithful and profound introduction to the philosophical meaning behind America’s political creed. It will be published by Bloomsbury Press next summer, in time for the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Recommended Citation
Uzzell, Lynn; Le, T.C.; and Van Geest, Julia, "Locke-ing and Un-Locke-ing the Declaration of Independence: An Introduction to Jefferson’s Philosophy of Revolution" (2026). Wednesday, February 25, 2026. 18.
https://spark.bethel.edu/dayofscholarship/spring2026/spr2026/18
Terms of Use and License Information
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Included in
Locke-ing and Un-Locke-ing the Declaration of Independence: An Introduction to Jefferson’s Philosophy of Revolution
Bethel University
Locke-ing and Un-Locke-ing the Declaration of Independence is a book project completed by Politics Professor Lynn Uzzell and two of her former students; it was generously funded by Bethel University’s Edgren Grant for faculty-student collaboration. The book provides an introduction to Jefferson’s philosophy of revolution, with a special focus on its connections to Locke’s writing in his Second Treatise. Each chapter tackles just one line from the second paragraph of the Declaration. The book’s examination of 14 discrete claims within the Declaration, along with a deleted 15th section, demonstrates that the Declaration is heavily indebted to the Second Treatise but also contains meaningful departures. The book is written with the general reader in mind. Even if readers have never encountered political theory before, this one book should provide a faithful and profound introduction to the philosophical meaning behind America’s political creed. It will be published by Bloomsbury Press next summer, in time for the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.