How Did John Locke Influence Government

1007 Words5 Pages

Josh Mattingly
AP European History
5/12/2016

John Locke was definitely one of the most influential people in European History through both his influence on government and his influence on others. Locke was a philosopher born August 29th, 1632 that believed strongly on the principle that the government should protect civil, natural, and property rights. Through Locke's desire and push to make an influence on government and others, he is one of the most influential people of European history. Locke's beliefs on humans rights and ideas about life, liberty, and property he had a major influence on both the Enlightenment and many of the Enlightenment thinkers. Locke had major influences on the Government, Enlightenment, and many people.

John Locke was born in 1632 to Agnes Keene and John Locke. His father was a lawyer and small landowner who had fought on the Parliamentarian side during the English Civil War of the 1640s. Using his wartime connections, he placed his son in the elite Westminster School. While in school John Locke focused his studying on logic, metaphysics, and classics. His study in logic and metaphysics later had a strong impact on his …show more content…

John Locke had a major influence on Thomas Hobbes. Hobbes wrote the Leviathan arguing that an absolute monarchy was the best type of government. Hobbes published the Leviathan before Locke wrote the two treatises on government. Hobbes believed people were greedy and wanted power so an absolute monarchy would be best. That differed from Locke's beliefs which led to him writing the two treatises on government in December of 1689 which had a major impact on many others. Locke believed that the basic human right is property which went against Hobbe's belief. His two treatises completely changed how Enlightenment thinkers saw everything. One of many important quotes from the second treatise of government that had a major influence on others