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How Did John Locke Influence Society

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When the American colonist won The American Revolutionary War against Britain our founding fathers created a democratic government. They used a set of beliefs called liberalism which had developed during the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment period. These new views of life were influenced by the English political philosopher John Locke. Although there were other philosophers whom shared the idea of individual rights it was Locke’s writings that provided the foundation to our rights in America. He believed that individual right’s included life, liberty and property. Locke insisted, “that government was originally formed for the purpose of protecting man 's individual rights against the incursions of other individuals” (Sigler, 1998, para.1). Locke’s ideas on revolution supported the American Revolutionary war and his views of man’s natural rights shape our democratic government which are still relevant today. John Locke’s famous writing Two Treaties of Government claimed that all men have certain natural rights. Men have the right to be free and equal which went against the early rule of the monarchy. He believed some of our rights have to be given up in order to form a government that would protect every man but if the government failed or selfishly used …show more content…

John Locke’s influence on our rights and culture is still strong today. The ideas of free enterprise, the evils of big government, and the right of the people to be heard is in the news every day. Students marched on the capital in Washington D.C. on March 24, 2018 to demand stronger gun laws and their right to feel safe at school. While Goldie (2008) points out “the National Rifle Association cites paragraph 137 of the Second Treatise as an authority on the right to carry arms” (para. 4). So, we have two different points of view but each can claim their position is entitled under their natural rights. In modern day, we have many more complicated issues impacting our ideas of life, liberty, and

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