John Locke's Second Treatise

Finally, with the ratification the fifteenth amendment in 1870s, it secured the vote for the African Americans, and it forbid states from denying any citizens from the right to vote based on race, color, or “previous condition of servitude.” These three amendments were significant changes during the Reconstruction period because all people, not just white, can fully enjoy being an American citizen without worrying over their race or

After the Civil War, the entire United States, especially the southern states that had supported the Confederacy, were in poor condition. The country needed to rebuild itself and therefore entered a period of Reconstruction. One of the primary aspects of the Reconstruction Era was extending rights to the millions of slaves emancipated by the thirteenth amendment that were in desperate need of help. To accomplish these intentions, Congress proposed the fourteenth and fifteenth constitutional amendments aimed at giving former slaves more rights and a fair chance at being successful. These amendments were then ratified by the states, officially putting them into effect.

Throughout the annals of history, the advocation for a democratic government has been at the forefront of many prosperous, well known societies. From Ancient Greece, to countries that have based their prosperity on democracy, like the United States for instance, popular sovereignty has been the contributing factor that integrates the common man into the government in which they are encapsulated. In the context of the American Independence movement, the need for American people to rule by their own terms meant the difference between being the slaves of a tyrannical leader, or the people belonging to a free society. The recalcitrant Americans fought against the unruly British in order to gain this independence. The document that initially gave

Many laws citizens of America abide by today trace back to the philosophical ideas of Enlightenment thinkers from the 17th century. During this time period, the scientific revolution and absolutism sparked a movement in which new ideas and thoughts promoted challenging the government. People believed that if they could understand human nature, they could form the ideal government to rule over the people. Many different thinkers presented their own thoughts and beliefs on the people and their natural rights, along with how the people should be ruled. Of the many Enlightenment thinkers whose philosophies are found the Constitution, John Locke and Voltaire made the greatest impact due to their contributions in protecting the people’s liberties,

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

One way that The Declaration of Independence embodies the American ideal of rights is that it gives every person the right to live how they want without the government telling them what to do. Thomas Jefferson says in the document, ”... That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness” (241). This textual evidence shows that if a government is limiting others’ rights, the people can abolish the old government and create a new one to support the people’s views. Another way that The Declaration of Independence embodies the American ideal of rights is that people have unalienable rights and they cannot be taken away.

Once Johnson was no longer in charge congress put into place the Civil Rights Act, an act that declared everyone who was born in the United states to be granted a citizen no matter their race or previous conditions. This meant all former slaves could become true legal citizens. Similarly, the 14th amendment made it so that each state was to give equal protection of the laws to everyone because it too declared all citizens were equal. This amendment also would not allow for confederate political leaders to hold positions and it would not forgive any debts of the confederacy. Following the civil rights act and the 14th amendment the 15th amendment and then another civil rights act were also put into effect.

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.

In John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government, Locke’s main argument is whether majority rulings does not violate people’s fundamental rights. He goes further to explain his theory of a legitimate government. According to Locke, a legitimate government is a government that is limited and based on consent of the people. A government must not violate a person’s natural right (life,liberty, and property), but it can take away property through taxes and make citizens go to war for them. In following that government has limits that can violate a person’s natural right, however, how can we constitute many of our law as violations to people’s fundamental rights if it helps the people.

One of the major steps in the enlightenment was the creation of the constitution and declaration of the independence. This aimed at protecting

John Locke discusses within in his book, “Second Treatise of Government,” the concepts of natural rights of individuals as well as the legitimate exercise of political power. Within his writing, Locke links his beliefs to a theory of personal property. This joining of ideas helps Locke make an argument against mainly unjust governments. In addition to his argument, Locke aims to explain how he believes that people have the right to rebel against their own government. In fact, he promotes people to rebel against their own government because everyone should have a government that they trust.

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.

Those revolutions were the American Revolution and the French Revolution. John Locke believed in 3 natural rights, which were life, liberty, and property. Those revolutions have shaped the world and made it into a better place. Locke and many other philosophers helped make that happen. Those natural rights that Locke believed in led to the creation of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Declaration of Rights and Man.

The Age of Enlightenment; a time of reasoning and decisions that forms the balance between people and government seen today. From the 1600s to the late 1700s, philosophers began to ponder as to why government was such a structural piece in civilizations. Some believed that it was a necessity; to keep order, peace, and safety but this could only occur if freedoms were taken in exchange, thus becoming known as social contract. Yet others claimed that government was only there to protect the rights of the people, that it should not hold much sway in the life of citizens.

Locke stated that people were born with natural rights, the right to life, liberty, and property. One of the most famous quotes from the Declaration of Independence states those rights as, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Thomas Jefferson, the writer of that quote got his idea from John Locke. Another grand idea modified from one of Locke’s, was the people’s power to overthrow the government- in a legal way of course. John Locke, according to ushistory.org, stated that citizens could overthrow their government if it failed to protect their three natural rights.