John Locke's Second Treatise Of Government

For the purpose of this paper, I will explore how James Harrington’s, Commonwealth of Oceana, and Montesquieu’s, The Spirit of Laws, are primarily irreconcilable with Locke’s understanding of property as it relates to the purpose of liberty in a republican form of government. I will contend that Harrington and Montesquieu's ideas on sumptuary tax and land reform will provide a republic with a fuller sense of stability, at the cost of liberty, than Locke’s understanding of property as the basis and purpose of government as represented by his work in Second Treatise on Civil Government. First, I will examine how Montesquieu’s adoption of sumptuary laws primarily inhibit a republic's individual's basic natural liberty by limiting their freedom to obtain what the citizens choose. Secondly, I will prove Harrington’s land reform and Montesquieu’s inheritance tax provide a

Once the third estate realized that they should do something about the heavy taxes and inequality, that’s where the Enlightenment ideas came to play. The third estate formed their opinions about the government and decided to use their voice. These ideas resulted in an attempt to overthrow the government. It also led to individuality, separation of powers and the protection of natural rights. This quote: “Men being, by nature are free, equal,

The Primary objective of all leaders should be to control citizens. A society that allows authority to be challenged will never succeed. This source depicts an authoritarian or totalitarian view of what a governing body should look like. The author suggests that the primary objective of government should be the “control of the citizens”, and therefore that the individuals should entirely obey said government.

The founding fathers agreed with John Locke’s philosophy and wanted to be able to protect these rights. The Second Treatise of Government also talked about tyranny it stated, “as usurpation

The American Revolutionary War came about after decades of grievances on the part of the American colonies, grievances which were put in place by the British Parliamentary system. The lack of American representation in parliament paired with the multitudes of acts designed to take advantage of the colonies were cause enough for the colonies to revolt and to overthrow their government. There are few who would disagree with the American’s justification for the revolution, would Locke be one of them? No he would not, the American colonies were fully justified under Lockean reasons for revolution, considering how long they endured the grievances and the legislature that was passed against them.

John Locke declared that through natural law, all people have the right to life, liberty, and property. In extent, under social contract, the people could instigate a revolution against the government when it acted against the interests of its citizens and that they had the power to replace the government with one that served the interests of its citizens. In opposition to Hobbes, who views government as almighty and immune to revolution, Locke permits revolution in circumstances of long and sustained abuse. The Bill of Rights and The Federalist Papers, too, can be seen as fortifying the right of revolution. In Federalist 28, Hamilton expresses this thought by saying, “if the persons entrusted with supreme power became usurpers…

John Locke was a key figure in the Enlightenment (which was at its peak at the time of the revolution), who stated that the government’s duty was to secure the rights of the people with the consent of the governed. If the government fails to do its duty, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to create a new one. Essentially, this was what the American Declaration of Independence revolved around; it calls out King George III on his acts that violates their values of equality and their unalienable rights and declares the independence of the thirteen

Thomas Jefferson was clearly familiar with Locke’s work when drafting the Declaration of Independence where he stated that Americans had the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” The Enlightenment influenced colonists to think rationally about their government, realize what was lacking, and work to change it. John Locke also stated that citizens had the obligation to revolt if their government did not protect their rights. Enlightenment ideas did not result in any real change in the years before the Seven Years War but they were consumed and discussed by colonists who would use them in the years to

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

In 1783, only six years before the French Revolution broke out, the Americans successfully rebelled against the English king. This proved that a revolution could actually happen and that rebelling against Louis XVI could have positive effects. The success of the American Revolution inspired them (Document 5). During the Enlightenment, major philosophers like John Locke emerged and questioned the role or power of the government. Born after the English Civil War, John Locke discussed how people had natural rights like life, liberty, and property, which needed to be protected by the 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.

From the 16th to 18th century, countries in Europe were experiencing new ideas and reforms. Philosophers like Locke believed in social equality. They have discussed the purpose of a government and spread their ideas. Locke’s ideas led to the revolution in France, who didn’t have rights under absolute monarch’s control. After the French gained their rights, people in Haiti started to fight because they wanted to have the same rights that French gained during the reform.

This sharing of power added ideas from the newly formed government that focused on the freedoms of citizens in England. Voltaire contended that the English government had successfully limited the power of the monarchy by affirming the power of the nobility, criticizing the French feudal system for its inability to share political power amongst the citizens of France (6). Advocating a limited monarchy to hold political discussions concerning the progress of the French government towards liberal reforms during the French Revolution. Voltaire as an enlightened philosophe, published papers about the rationality of the French government, which influenced his attitude towards the English constitutional monarchy that implemented the enlightened ideal of liberty. John Locke wrote that the purpose of electing legislative powers was to create laws and rules that protected the “properties of all the members of society,” a natural right of mankind (5).

Rousseau, one of the most leading philosophers during the Enlightenment, had indeed left many of legendries behind. Not only his writings had caused many of the reactions at that time, but also influenced many writers’ aspects of the French Revolution and the overall understanding of inequality and the General Will. As one of the chief political theorists during the French Revolution who was also influenced by Rousseau’s ideas, Abbe Sieyes, published the pamphlet, “What is the Third Estate?” in 1789. This pamphlet was one of the documents that changed the world and lit the flame toward the French Revolution, as characterized by Joe Janes, a University of Washington professor (Janes).

In the “Excerpts from The Second Treatise of Government” by John Locke, he talks about the state of nature, the property, and the ends of political society and government. In this paper, I will focus on explore Lockean theory of the property, and how his theory related to the economic inequality we face today. In the second paragraph, I will explain the Lockean concept of the state of nature, in order to help us explore Lockean theory of the property, and the end of political society and government. In the third paragraph, I will try to apply Lockean theory of property to the economic inequality we face today, and argue that his theory cannot fully justify the problem of economic inequality we face today. In the last paragraph, I will suggest what would be required in order to make the