John+Locke

John Locke was an English philosopher and major contributor to the Enlightenment of Europe. He was influenced by the period in England during the reign of James II, who eventually led to William and Mary and the signing of the Bill of Rights. He believed that the nature of man was born good, unlike another philosopher during the Enlightenment, Thomas Hobbes. He believed that all men had their right to life, liberty, and property. In his eyes, the aim of the government was to protect the peoples' natural rights stated in the Social Contract. The representative government should be made up of the most intelligent people suited to rule. However, if the government failed their duties or took away one's natural rights, the people had the right to overthrow the government in order to replace it with a new and reformed government. Overall, John Locke believed in the wellness of mankind, including their natural rights. The American Declaration of Independence was largely based on Locke's philosophies.

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Created by Hannah Hollon 2/10/09 Edited by Charlie Baker 2/12/09 Edited by Becca Ellison 2/12/09 Edited by Benjamin Ellison 2/15/09