What were the influences on the Declaration of Independence?

What were the influences on the Declaration of Independence?

The influences on the Declaration of Independence include Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, who emphasized natural rights and the social contract theory, as well as the ideas of Thomas Paine, who advocated for independence from Britain in his pamphlet "Common Sense." Additionally, the colonists' experiences with British oppression and their desire for self-governance also influenced the document.