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.
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.
Locke was most well-known for his views on citizen’s rights and a limited government. Locke believed that all people had what he called “natural rights.” To Locke, natural rights would include a person’s life, liberty, and property not to be harmed. This ideology was the shaping of the English Whig tradition. The English Whig tradition was based on two forms of republicanism, known as classical republicanism and liberal republicanism.
Locke also wrote, “But though men, when they enter into society, give up the equality, liberty, and executive power they had in the state of nature, into the hands of the society, to be so far disposed of by the legislative, as the
Instead he believed in a constitutional government, which is when the ruler or king has to follow rules to. He believed that people was born with freedom, so instead of having an absolute ruler he made sure the governments power came from the consent of the people. Locke had a deep influence on modern political thinking, so he made the government change the way they ran their organization and it ended working out in the
Nationalism and sectionalism share the same idea but on different scales. Pride and love for your country is nationalism. Ones allegiance to their particular section of their country is sectionalism. Before the era of good feeling America leaned more towards sectionalism. People had considered themselves Rhode islanders or Virginians and didn’t really call themselves Americans.
For example Locke, argued that people should be allowed to choose their own government, as it will have a greater chance of not failing. Locke said, “The people are at liberty to provide for themselves, by erecting a new legislative,... for the society can never,... lose the native and original right it has to preserve itself, which can only be a done by a settled legislative and a fair and impartial execution of the laws made by it” (Document A). John is stating that it shouldn't be the government who makes all the decisions but the people as it is their right to do so. John Locke was just one of the four figures in the enlightenment that made an impact.
Enlightened thought presented by Locke outlined the formation for a new government that served the people of the nation, restoring their rights and liberties, rather than just the
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.
John Locke saw no explanation reason why kings should rule rather than having people rule themselves. Great Awakening created splits among member of religious denominations. Some people’s belief changed while others stayed the same. Jonathon Edwards led one of the first religious revivals in MA. He proclaimed humans sinful and corrupt if they don’t repent then God was prepared to send them to hell.
Additionally, his view of equality makes a better case based on the fact that it was not inadequate to the political realm. Locke also emphasized on religious toleration except atheism. Moreover, he also supported the general toleration of religious beliefs and at the same time remained pessimistic with the ex-communication of non-believers. Locke's political and religious understanding of life played an essential role in influencing his understanding of equality (Broers 1). In this case, these things put in the picture his moral code and also give details of the seemingly opposing ideas of his thinking.
John Locke was a philosophe during the enlightenment that strongly
As a matter of fact, when writing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson incorporated several of Locke’s political philosophies. A prime example of this is when it talks about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; comparatively, these words are lifted almost verbatim from Locke’s stances. Without Locke and his Enlightenment ideals, the American government system would look incredibly
And so, what would happen if the people violated the social contract was the question that brought the creation of a civil society. The people also consented, unanimously, the creation of civil society and therefore leaving the state of nature also consented to allow his property to be governed by the government of his choice, and those who did not consent where left in the state of nature against the rest of society. Under the social contract, Locke explains that we must obey government that we our born under, bringing us to the concept of express consent and tacit consent. Express consent, consent given in writing or by voicing it, is binding but can never be taken away. Tacit consent is consent given silently and based more on one’s actions
Instead, it is much more important to look at how Locke views the relationship between the limits of the church and the limits of government, and how those two limits interact. One of the foundational aspects of Locke’s Letter Concerning Toleration is the separate sphere philosophy of the church and state duality. Much like the separate sphere philosophy of gender that arrived in the 19th century, both spheres of the church and the state are supposed to remain relatively separate. The goal of the magistrate is to make earthly life better through the preservation of our natural rights, whereas the goal of the church is to secure the good life of its congregation by promoting eternal salvation.
