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The Constitution and Its Origins essay
Impact john locke had on political developments
Essay on the constitution u.s. history
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Describe two ways John Locke influenced the Constitution (not the Declaration…). John Locke influence the constitution through his idea of social contract, which is the concept that people give their consent to be governed. In return of the consent, the government provides protections such as civil liberties and state protections. These are a few of the examples the social contract theory implies. Another key component Locke influenced the Constitution is through his philosophy of natural rights.
It is understood that John Locke played a key role of influence on Thomas Jefferson. This influence can be seen through Jefferson’s writing on the nation’s founding document. This document is called the Declaration of Independence. John Locke, the English Enlightenment philosopher wrote his Two Treatises of Government to refute the belief that kings ruled by divine right and to support the Glorious Revolution of 1688 (Doc 1). This piece of political philosophy provided many explanations for the people’s rights and obligations to overthrow a corrupt government.
The Age of Reason is a name used to describe the age that influenced the American Statesmen of the Revolution. Taxes forced upon the colonists by Britain after the French and Indian War enraged the colonists, leading to the Revolution that would change the world forever. Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence and Thomas Paine’s The Crisis Number 1 were two very important works of literature during the Revolutionary period. Both works used persuasion effectively.
John Locke was a philosopher, and political scientist. He believed democracy was a considerably better form of government than a monarchy. Thomas Jefferson was the third U.S. president, and was one of America’s founding fathers. He was the author of the Declaration of Independence, and played a key role in the institution of the United States of America. John Locke was a very influential person when it came to Thomas Jefferson and the ideas within the Declaration of Independence.
Locke had stated that when an executive act for his own benefit, and not to serve the ends of the people. He “degrades himself” and becomes “but a single private person without power,” at which point he no longer has any right to rule over the people. Locke expresses the idea of rebellion against an unjust government. By giving the idea of rebellion, he also reveals that a human’s rights have changed over the years and that a man now has inherent rights. It was because of his declaration that the statement, “give me liberty or give me death,” become popular among the American people.
What are the Historical Influences of United States Constitution? It is known that people all over the world have come to the United States, to create a better life for their families and themselves. The United States is known for having the best form of government for people to be included and have a say in their beliefs. What many people do not know is, what influenced the United States Constitution and the founding fathers in writing.
A country based on an individual's natural rights and free will, in the land of opportunity, being an American citizen has a very important role in our society. Electing local and national government officials, and making changes in your community is evident through your democratic elections. But what key ideas and elements lay the foundation for a functional and effective governing body? The fundamental ideas of Baron de Montesquieu, John Locke, and the English Bill of Rights all preach the same values of limited government run by the people, and are all assets that were indoctrinated in the creation of the U.S. constitution.
Have you ever thought to yourself, where did the Constitution come from? Someone surely had to inspire the people who wrote it? You’re right and I’m going to talk about 3 of some of the most important documents that influenced the Constitution. Starting with the Rights of Citizenship in the Constitution because we got to know how the Constitution affects us and why we care about it.
The Enlightenment, also known as the “Age of Reason,” occurred in the eighteenth century and was a period in which ideas concerning God, nature, reason and humanity were combined, and these ideas instigated revolutionary developments in art, philosophy, and politics. The Enlightenment was crucial in determining aspects in terms of politics, government, and religion. Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Charles Montesquieu influenced the Founding Fathers and their ideas were found in the Declaration of Independence. The most important influence that shaped the founding of the United States came from John Locke, an Englishmen who redefined the nature of government.
Philosophical ideas impacted human history, particularly in government. Niccolo Machiavelli and John Locke ideation molded human history on how power should be divided equally amongst the people and the ruler. Their theories began the steps to construction of the U.S government. Machiavelli ideas migrated the power in monarchies away form the power of the church to the King/Queen. Particularly starting in Florence during the renaissance and political enlightenment.
Undeniably, the United States has come a long way from the original starting point, but not without trial, error, and many steps to move forwards. However, the framers that were familiar with these two philosophers are the ones that deserve the most credit. Both John Locke and Thomas Hobbes played a formative role in the creation of the constitution and eventually contributed to the lively political debate that surrounds modern experiments. In addition, the new government was built based off of Locke and Hobbes that gathered any designed information.
In John Locke’s “Second Treatise on Civil Government,” Locke places the sovereign in complete control of the government. In sect. 149 he states, “..people devolve into hands of those that gave it.” His argument was that the government's sole purpose was to serve the people and that we can dissolve the government if it’s best interest was not for the people. In the state of nature, natural law governs behavior, and each person has license to execute that law against someone who wrongs them by infringing on their rights.
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.
“All mankind... being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions. ”(Locke). There are many factors that helped the foundation of the seven principles of the Constitution but the one who stands out is John Locke. There's a theory which has created a change in the way people, back then, think and this theory was made by John Locke and his point of view towards the government and thanks to him we can have the seven principles of the constitution. John Locke helped the foundation of the seven principles of the Constitution by creating the Social Contract theory which it was helped by the power of the people and equality in the government.
There were many philosophers in the 17th and 18th century that influenced and inspired the founders of our country. For instance, John Locke believed that life, liberty, and property should be our natural rights as humans and if the government could not secure these rights then the people could get rid of them. That idea impacted Thomas Jefferson when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. This was the perfect time to develop different theories and contradictions because this was right around the time of the printing press and protestant reformation where people started to question the catholic church. Other philosophers like Thomas Hobbes, Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau impacted founders like George Washington and James Madison who have positively affected this country in many different ways.