John Locke's The Second Treatise Of Government

John Locke wrote his book The Second Treatise of Government in 1690 paving the way for modern liberalism in which we know today. He is regarded as the father of classical liberalism with his ideas of equality and man’s right to govern themselves and there children, dismissing the idea of a ruling government with all the power. His ideas at the time challenged the system and a need for a monarchical government making the choices for its people, leaving those choices up to men themselves. His ideals in all aspects where revolutionary and time changing for the 1690’s. When talking about liberalism, one must talk about John Locke who wrote about the idea of personal liberty or “to be free from any superior power on earth” (Second Treatise, §22). Locke Believed in the idea that men where free to rule themselves and didn’t give into one ruler such as a king. He goes on saying that all men are “equal and independent ” (Second Treatise, §6) going on to say that no government or higher power can offend this right which they where born with.

Within the text it goes on saying “Men being as has been said by nature are free…no one can be put out of this estate and subjected to the political powers of another, without his own consent” (Second Treatise, §95) meaning that a mans right is his own and to disagree or trying to change that is against him because he did not consent. John Locke talks a lot about property and the importance or a man owning it and keeping it, saying government “must not raises taxes on the property of the people without consent of the people” (Second Treatise, §142). In his writing about 1690’s society he truly believed the no government should be able to do anything without the consent of the public, because without consent government’s take away individuals rights and freedoms and Locke did not stand for