Each political philosopher's opinions are influenced by the setting each man experiences. Locke is forming his political philosophy during a time of Revolution. Therefore, he bases his philosophy around democracy.
There are forgotten pieces of history that must have shaped what the United States of America is today. The people who kept George Washington alive when he was little and how they did it have been forgotten by most. Some of the less obvious inspirations John Locke had and what caused them have been lost. Even some of his meaning is lost in his writing. These things helped to make America and its government the way they are today.
Locke believed that every person has rights including the rights to life, liberty, and property. Locke also believed that governments should be for the good of people, as quoted in source A “The purpose of government is the good of mankind” (John Locke). These ideas were expressed in the French Revolution,
He believed that people were born with reason and in with that came common interests and peace, but he also knew that people would need something to act as a third party in natural brawls. He supported a government that would take action when needed but other-wise stay at bay. When this government made appearance at times in need of control the people would willingly consent to a social contract, which was the notion of at times for the good of the people losing some freedoms. With this government, and its powers came the important opportunity for the people to discard the representatives that they felt were not governing for the people. Locke knew that man was easily influence by self-interest, and if man governed man that wouldn’t it be only natural for government to become a self-interested tool for its own consumption of power and benefits; Madison’s theories constantly worried of a central government that would obtain too much power.
His ideas greatly contributed to the Enlightenment in the United States. Locke argued for rights to life and possessions/property, freedom of religion and liberty. Founding Fathers, including Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, fully supported Locke’s notions and philosophies. John Locke’s ideas became the groundwork for numbers of governments across the world, including America, and provided a numerous amount of people with liberty and freedom. Benjamin Franklin, Found Father and full supporter of John Locke, was a politician, diplomat, statesmen, scientist and an author.
Locke’s Foundation America was not only diverse in race and religious backgrounds, but political views varied as well, which created varying degrees of discourse within the republic. However, John Locke’s ideas were admired and influential to the formation of the American government. Thomas Jefferson, one of America’s founding fathers, believed so strongly in Locke’s political philosophy that Locke’s influence was reflected in Jefferson’s writings. Despite the diversity of the American people and unprecedented changes throughout American history, the American people were still guided by his philosophy from colonization in the Americas to the conclusion of the American Civil War.
John Locke believed this as well, that the citizens should be able to change the government if needed. However, this also showed what Thomas Jefferson was going through. He was not only founding a government, but he was rebelling against one. He disliked the idea of monarchy, and giving total control to the government. This further shows that John Locke had an influence on Pres.
Locke helped shape the United States government and many other nations governing systems around the world. Locke believed all men were born with the rights of life or your natural rights of liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and a government should protect and respect the rights of individuals. Under the protection of your government he believed “whom the society hath set over itself, with this express or tacit trust, that it shall be employed for their good, and the preservation of their property: now this power, which every man has in the state of nature, and which he parts with to the society in all such cases where the society can secure him, is to use such means, for the preserving of his own property, as he thinks good, and nature allows him; and to punish the breach of the law of nature in other” (Document C). By introducing natural rights the common people gained more power through an equality between all men. Natural rights gave people the right to possess and protect their own property both physical items and personal ideals.
Locke’s ideas from the Two Treatises of Government and An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, were based upon the natural rights where power comes from the people. Both of his pieces contributed to revolutions, most importantly the American Revolution as power from monarchies was removed and democracies were created. Allowed for limited government power and all obligations were to the citizens. An Essay Concerning Human Understanding basis was on how the knowledge existence of God, certain moral truths, and laws of logic or mathematics pertained to the natural rights of
It is understood that John Locke played a key role of influence on Thomas Jefferson. This influence can be seen through Jefferson’s writing on the nation’s founding document. This document is called the Declaration of Independence. John Locke, the English Enlightenment philosopher wrote his Two Treatises of Government to refute the belief that kings ruled by divine right and to support the Glorious Revolution of 1688 (Doc 1). This piece of political philosophy provided many explanations for the people’s rights and obligations to overthrow a corrupt government.
John Locke was a philosopher and political scientist. He had many interests and produced a number of writings that influenced future leaders. One of these leaders was Thomas Jefferson, who was involved with the aid of America and the act gaining independence from Britain. The Declaration of Independence and Locke’s views on government contain many similar aspects. These ideas includes the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (natural rights); the protection that is provided by the government for these rights; and the altering or abolishment of government if it fails to provide and protect the rights of the people.
His strengths were outlined throughout history as his ideas became an important part of modern law. For example, Locke’s ideas of the right to life, liberty, and property are considered fundamental rights in our society today with the vast majority agreeing that it is important. In addition, Locke’s idea of separating government powers is used in current day legal systems. On the other hand, his weaknesses and flaws within his theory supported a unpredictable and unstable government. By letting citizens control how people were punished for crimes without a higher power to set our guidelines for the offenses/punishments caused injustice in some cases as similar cases begin to vary in punishment.
• Thomas used Aristotle’s view of natural law to justify the authority of the Roman Catholic Church in political as well as religious matters. For the purpose of explaining the fundamental reasons of law he used Aristotle’s philosophy and added the use of an eternal ruler. John Locke • John Locke had a distinct influence on the writers of the American Constitution by advocating for human rights and liberty through democracy. In saying so, he believed that the mass majority of ordinary people can be capable of giving consent to their governor/ruler as opposed to the Monarch government. However if the ruler did not comply with the needs of the people, Locke believed that the public had the justified right to rebel.
Locke is a founder of the Common Sense pamphlet. He believed in government ruled by people. “He expressed the radical view that government is morally obliged to serve people, namely by protecting life, liberty, and property. He explained the principle of checks and balances to limit government power. He favored representative government and a rule of law.
Natural rights consist of life, liberty, and property. He believed that people were naturally good and that they are not naturally evil. One of John Locke’s main beliefs is that as a people, you could overthrow your leader if they do not protect your natural rights. John Locke’s idea of Natural rights is still relevant today due to the fact that it impacted the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Due to Locke’s ideas being so impactful, he has become one of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers.
