John Locke and Voltaire are the two European thinkers that influenced the fathers of the United States.
Voltaire influenced in terms of freedom of religion, speech and press, while John Locke influenced in terms of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.
John Locke was an English philosopher and physician, regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers and commonly known as the "Father of Liberalism".
Meanwhile, Voltaire was a French Enlightenment philosopher, historian and writer notable for his wit, his criticism of Christianity, especially the Roman Catholic Church, and his advocacy of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and separation of church and state.
