John Locke redefined the nature of government and how it should be run. Locke’s ideas helped our Founding Fathers create a system called, democracy. In Locke’s, “The Second Treatise of Government,” that was published in 1689, he says that, “Because men consent to enter into society to preserve their natural rights to life, liberty, and property, whenever the government endeavors to take away or destroy the life, liberty, or property of the people, the government puts itself in a state of war with the people…” In this quote he is saying that, the government gains authority though the support of its people. The duty of the government is to protect its people and their natural rights. If the government fails to protect these rights, the people have the right to overthrow the government. This idea of government influenced Thomas Jefferson greatly when writing the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson used the idea of natural rights (life, liberty, and property) and changed them into life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This was the right that was absolutely guaranteed to the people of America. The government should protect their peoples’ rights and in return the people will follow them and create a prospering country. In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson used Locke’s ideas of equality (all men are created equal), natural rights, how the government should govern, the purpose of government, and the alteration of government by the people if needed to
John Locke redefined the nature of government and how it should be run. Locke’s ideas helped our Founding Fathers create a system called, democracy. In Locke’s, “The Second Treatise of Government,” that was published in 1689, he says that, “Because men consent to enter into society to preserve their natural rights to life, liberty, and property, whenever the government endeavors to take away or destroy the life, liberty, or property of the people, the government puts itself in a state of war with the people…” In this quote he is saying that, the government gains authority though the support of its people. The duty of the government is to protect its people and their natural rights. If the government fails to protect these rights, the people have the right to overthrow the government. This idea of government influenced Thomas Jefferson greatly when writing the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson used the idea of natural rights (life, liberty, and property) and changed them into life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This was the right that was absolutely guaranteed to the people of America. The government should protect their peoples’ rights and in return the people will follow them and create a prospering country. In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson used Locke’s ideas of equality (all men are created equal), natural rights, how the government should govern, the purpose of government, and the alteration of government by the people if needed to