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=John Locke's Two Treatises of Government=
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=John Locke's ''Two Treatises of Government''=
 
by [[User:Mbpatel|Milap Patel]]<br>
 
by [[User:Mbpatel|Milap Patel]]<br>
  
 
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|title = Title of this Milestone
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|title = Two Treatises of Government
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|image = [[File:ProjectPicture.jpg|x450px|alt=Milestone Image]]
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|image = [[File:John Locke Two Treatises.jpg |x450px|alt=Milestone Image]]
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|caption = <ref group="img"> Locke, J. (2014). Two Treatises of Government. Retrieved from https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51p0r-FE36L._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg </ref>
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|label2 = '''John Locke'''
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|data2 = Born: 29 August 1632, Wrington, England<br />
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Died: 28 October 1704, High Laver, England
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|label4 = '''Influenced'''
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|data4 = The Glorious Revolution, The American Revolution, And The French Revolution
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|label3 = '''Locke's Work'''
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|data3 = ''Two Treatises Of Government''<br />
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Published On December 1689
 
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=Abstract=
 
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This milestone is about understanding John Locke's political philosophy and how it influenced America. To accomplish this task, I decided to study Locke's most influential work, ''Two Treatises Of Government''. The background of this milestone discusses in depth Locke's philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and how that philosophy was influenced according to the state of England during his life. The deliverable then discusses how Locke's philosophy influenced the American Revolution and the creation of the American government that still serves its people to this day. Previously, I have had very little experience in the field of philosophy with no prior classes taken, but understanding Locke's ''Two Treatises Of Government'' has provided me with a view on why a government exists and what its obligations are to the people of America. 
 
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=Introduction=
 
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This milestone discusses John Locke's political philosophy outlined in his work ''Two Treatises Of Government''. Locke's political philosophy was very important to the formation of United States as we know it today. Locke came up with his political philosophy in response to the turbulence in England during his time. He was forced to evaluate monarchy and determine if it was the correct form of government for the people. To do this, Locke first looked at the state of nature to understand what forced people to join societies ruled by the government. From there, he determined that monarchy in England was not the right form of government to serve the people because it led to tyranny. In opposition to monarchy, Locke proposed a new form of branched government that would serve the people in protecting their life, liberty, and property.  Locke's political ideas were then used to justify the American Revolution along with creating a lasting government that served the people of America to this day.         
 
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=Section 1: Background=
 
=Section 1: Background=
 
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==Background on John Locke==
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==Life In England During The Time Of John Locke==
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|title = Religious Intolerance
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|caption = <ref group="img"> Granger (2012). Puritans: Punishment, 1670s. Retrieved from https://fineartamerica.com/featured/puritans-punishment-1670s-granger.html</ref>
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Research bibliography and his major works. May create another page for this and link it to this page.
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John Locke was an English philosopher who was born in England in the year 1632. He initially studied medicine at the University of Oxford, graduating with a degree in that field. He later joined Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, assisting him in business and political matters along with being his personal physician. John Locke was deeply influenced during his time with Cooper where he started to study politics. He eventually took a stand against monarchy, believing that the government was for the benefit of the people.
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<ref>Schwoerer, L. (1990). Locke, Lockean Ideas, and the Glorious Revolution. Journal of the History of Ideas, 51(4), 531-548. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/2709645</ref><br />
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This was clearly not the case during his time. The kings of England, King Charles II and King James II, were abusive of their power, forcing their will on the citizens by passing laws that favored their religious views. These laws caused the people of England misery over religious matters. As such, the people considered monarchy in England a form of tyranny where they believed monarchy stripped them of their freedom and demoted them to a form of slavery, a form where they were forced to obey the unjust king. Furthermore, the people of England considered their ruling government to fail at its obligations to the people and because of this they called for a new form of government that favored the people as a whole, not just a few. These thoughts eventually led to the Glorious Revolution, which took place in 1688, in which the tyrannical monarchy of England was overthrown. Locke's philosophical view on politics in his work, the ''Two Treatises Of Government'', had a major influence on this movement where he tried to justify the fall of monarchy and a creation of a new form of government for the people.
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<ref>Schwoerer, L. (1990). Locke, Lockean Ideas, and the Glorious Revolution. Journal of the History of Ideas, 51(4), 531-548. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/2709645</ref>
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<ref>Giffin, F. (1967). John Locke and Religious Toleration. Journal of Church and State, 9(3), 378-390. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/23913736</ref>
 
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==What are Two Treatises of Government==
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==Evaluation Of Two Treatises of Government==
 
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John Locke wrote the two treaties of government in correspondence to the Glorious Revolution which took place in 1688. His intention for writing the treatises were to justify William the third's ascension to the throne. With John Locke being part of a radical group, far left of the political spectrum during those times, his two treatises of government tried to justify and preserve the hereditary succession of the monarchy. The treatises also tried to explain king Williams possession of authority as he ascended the throne.
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Locke's philosophy was deeply religious and deeply influenced by the events that unfolded during his life in England. As such, he tried to understand the essence of government and the reason why it existed in his work, the ''Two Treatises Of Government''. In ''Two Treatises Of Government'', Locke first looked at the state of nature to understand the origins of authority. From there, he concluded that monarchy was not the right form of government for the people, supporting his claims with a religious view. He ended the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' by  calling for a new form of government to replace monarchy, where the people had power within the ruling government to better protect their life, liberty and property. He also laid out the foundation for rebellion and formation of a new form of government when the immediate ruling government ceased to function for the benefit of the people.   
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<ref> Ashcraft, R. (1986). Revolutionary Politics and Locke's Two Treatises of Government. Princeton: Princeton University Press., pp. 572 </ref>
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<ref>Thomas, D. (1962). The Political Philosophy of John Locke. Philosophy, 37(141), 260. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3748443</ref>
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<ref> Laslett, P. (1956). The English Revolution and Locke's 'Two Treatises of Government' The Cambridge Historical Journal, 12(1), 43. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3021052</ref>
 
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<ref> Thomas, D. (1962). The Political Philosophy of John Locke. Philosophy, 37(141), 260. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3748443</ref>
 
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Peter Laslett, however, suggests that this was the case. He denies the fact that Glorious Revolution influenced the writing of the treatises. According to Laslett, the treatises begin forming far before the revolution. It is speculated that the treatises started being written during the Exclusion Crisis, a crisis in an attempt to exclude Charles II’s brother James, a Roman Catholic, from succeeding to the throne, 10 years prior to the revolution.   
 
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<ref> Davies, H. A., & Baker, P. S. (n.d.). English literature. Retrieved May 28, 2017, from https://www.britannica.com/art/English-literature/The-Restoration#ref308400</ref>
 
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<ref> Thomas, D. (1962). The Political Philosophy of John Locke. Philosophy, 37(141), 260. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3748443</ref>
 
 
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===Analysis of Two Treatises of Government===
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===The State Of Nature===
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John Locke looks at humans in the state of nature in the Second Treatise of his work, the ''Two Treatises of Government''. He claims that all men are originally in the state of nature. In this state, Locke says that all men are perfectly free and perfectly equal without an overseeing government. In other words, Locke implies that people are only bound by the law of nature where each person lives, acts, and uses his possessions as he sees fit without a common authority. The natural law, or the "Fundamental law of Nature," as Locke calls it, is the right to self-preservation. It states that each man is empowered to do whatever is in his power to preserve himself in the state of nature.
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<ref>Goldwin, R. (1976). Locke's State of Nature in Political Society. The Western Political Quarterly, pp. 126-135. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/447588</ref>
 
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The two treatises of government consist two parts of what John Locke considers his whole work. The first treatise looks at Sir Robert Filmer’s Patriarcha which focuses on the natural power of the king. The second treatise looks at Locke's proposed solution to the political upheaval in England with possible solutions for a better government. The ideas presented in the treatises were so radical that Locke never claimed ownership his work while they were being published. It was only when he claimed it in his will that the true author of the treatises was truly known. 
 
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<ref> Thomas, D. (1962). The Political Philosophy of John Locke. Philosophy, 37(141), 260-262. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3748443</ref><br />
 
 
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====The First Treatise====
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===The State Of War===
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|title = Locke's View On State Of Nature
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|caption = <ref group="img">  (2016). Humans In Nature. Retrieved from http://plus-ultra.hatenablog.com/entry/2016/01/17/080907 </ref>
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In the first treatise, John Locke argues that Filmer cannot be correct because his theory implies that every man is born a slave to the natural born kings. According to John Locke, "slavery is a vile and miserable an estate of man," which he states at the start of his first treatise. As Locke puts it, he believes in reason and in the ability of every man to virtuously govern himself according to God’s law. As such he is against the idea of patriarchalism.
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Locke then moves on to talk about the differences between the state of nature and the state of war in Chapter III if his Second Treatise. In the state of war, people exert unwelcome force on other people by interfering with their natural rights and their freedom. According to Locke, the state of nature which at first is a condition of peace and mutual trust, quickly degenerates into the state of war when a crisis or a disagreement arises between the people. This happens because there is no overseeing authority in the state of nature meaning each individual serves as a judge, jury and executioner of the natural law. This leads to force and violence, the only resolution since common law does not exist between the people.
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<ref>Rowen, H. (1956). A Second Thought on Locke's First Treatise. Journal of the History of Ideas, 17(1), 130-132. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2707691.</ref>
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<ref>Simmons, A. (1989). Locke's State of Nature. Political Theory, 17(3), 449-470. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/191226</ref>
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<ref> LOCKE, J., & Shapiro, I. (2003). Two Treatises of Government: And a Letter Concerning Toleration. Yale University Press., pp.1, 35</ref>
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<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 167-168. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref><br />
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Filmer says that the Biblical Adam, in his role as father, possessed unlimited power over his children and his authority passed down through the generations. Filmer also says that Adam's absolute authority came from his ownership of the world. Locke, however, dispels this notion arguing that the world was originally held in common. He says that God's grant to Adam covered only the land and brute animals, not human beings. As such, Locke says that Adam and his heir could not leverage this grant to enslave mankind. The law of nature forbids reducing one's fellows to a state of desperation, if one possesses a sufficient surplus to maintain oneself securely
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Property is a key subject Locke brings up in Chapter V of the Second Treatise. In this chapter, he links the human's behavior of acquiring property to the state of war when humans are living in the state of nature. Locke begins this chapter by first stating that the Earth is considered the property of all the people where the people can use it for their collective survival and benefit. Locke writes, "God gave the World to Men in Common, but he gave it to them for their benefits, and the greatest Conveniences of Life they were capable to draw form it."  Locke then considers the concept of individual property where individuals take possession of the things around them when in the state of nature. He says, "Human nature is very much that of man as the property-acquiring animal in the state of nature." In other words, Locke is suggesting that humans tend to take possessions of things around them and call them their property. This, however, brings up the question of ownership. Locke defines ownership as labor performed by a person. He writes, "Every man has a ''Property'' in his ''Person.'' This body has any Right to but himself. The ''Labour'' of his Body and the ''Work'' of his Hands, we may say, are properly his...For this ''Labour'' being the unquestionable Property of the Laborer." In other words, Locke says that a person owns his own body and all the labor performed by that body. Labor then leads to the ownership of property that the labor relates to. Now, when another person adds his own physical labor, which is his own property, to a foreign object or material, then that object and any resulting products also become his property. But in a state of nature, there are no common law to determine who owns what part of an object or fruits of collective labor since each person has his own idea of possession. This ultimately leads to the state of war over the conflict of possession where the resolution ends in violence and dominance of the fittest.
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<ref> LOCKE, J., & Shapiro, I. (2003). Two Treatises of Government: And a Letter Concerning Toleration. Yale University Press., pp. 15-21, 45-48</ref>.
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<ref> Locke, J. (1988). Locke: Two Treatises of Government Student Edition (P. Peter Laslett, Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press., pp. 101-103 </ref>
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<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
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Locke further argues that the divine right of kings may end up being the downfall of all governments. As he puts it, if Filmer is correct, then there should only be one rightful king in all the world, which being Adam's heir. This, however, will be impossible to discover, meaning that no government, under Filmer's principles, can require its members to obey the god appointed rulers. Locke, therefore, suggests that men are duty-bound to obey their present rulers instead.
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===Call For A Government===
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<ref> LOCKE, J., & Shapiro, I. (2003). Two Treatises of Government: And a Letter Concerning Toleration. Yale University Press., pp. 65, 81-91</ref>.
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Locke calls for a government to secure individuals property. As he puts it, the natural law dictates a right of private property, and it is to secure this right that government is established. Locke further explains this by relating it to the state of war. He calls the state of nature "unstable" with no civil authority where people are in constant dispute over the ownership of their property. This prevents peaceful enjoyment of their fruits of labor which are constantly threatened by others around them, causing war and conflict. This is the key reason Locke calls for a common government where common laws can resolve conflicts without resorting to the state of war. Locke writes, "protection of property is the great and chief end of Men's uniting into a commonwealth."             
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<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
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Locke ends his first treatise stating that there is no evidence to support Filmer's hypothesis. Locke says that no king has ever claimed that his authority rested upon him being the heir of Adam as he compares the history in the bible against the world's history.
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===Locke's View Against Monarchy===
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<ref> LOCKE, J., & Shapiro, I. (2003). Two Treatises of Government: And a Letter Concerning Toleration. Yale University Press., pp. 85, 91</ref>.
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|caption = <ref group="img"> Mast M. (2013). Monarchy versus republicanism: does a naturalized citizen not have a choice?. Retrieved from https://www.compas.ox.ac.uk/2013/monarchy-versus-republicanism-does-a-naturalised-citizen-not-have-a-choice/</ref>
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Locke believes that monarchy emerged as an early form of government to protect the people from being in the state of war. He believed that people considered monarchy, or a one-man rule, to be the prime form of government as they moved into societies form the state of nature. The idea behind monarchy was to create laws from one person's perspective that everyone else obeyed, ultimately reducing everyone's individual views on subjects to one common view. Doing this would help create order among the population where common laws would help resolve conflicts in a more peaceful manner, compared to how they were resolved when in the state of nature with multiple individual's views.
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<ref> Simmons, A. (1993). THE LOCKEAN STATE OF NATURE. In On the Edge of Anarchy: Locke, Consent, and the Limits of Society (pp. 13-39). Princeton University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt7zv047.7 </ref>
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<ref>Flannery, K., & Marcus, J. (2012). The Nursery of Civilization. In The Creation of Inequality: How Our Prehistoric Ancestors Set the Stage for Monarchy, Slavery, and Empire (pp. 448-474). Cambridge, Massachusetts; London, England: Harvard University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt2jbvjr.24</ref>
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<ref>Flannery, K., & Marcus, J. (2012). The Land of the Scorpion King. In The Creation of Inequality: How Our Prehistoric Ancestors Set the Stage for Monarchy, Slavery, and Empire (pp. 394-421). Cambridge, Massachusetts; London, England: Harvard University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt2jbvjr.22</ref>
  
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Locke, further, goes on to say that monarchy became abusive in England over time. He says that the kings, or the ruling individuals, thought they had the divine right of the kings, granted to them by God, to rule their people as they saw fit. Filmer, in his book called ''Patriarcha'' supported this notion by saying that every man is born a slave to the natural born kings. He justifies this claim by relating it to religion, saying that Biblical Adam, in his role as father, was granted ultimate power, by God, over his children and his authority passed down through the generations. In other words, Filmer basically said that the kings were Adam's heirs who held the ultimate power, granted to them by the God, over the residents of this world.
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<ref>SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy (pp. 166). New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
  
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====Second Treatise====
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Locke opposed Filmer's notion, in the First Treatise. He said that every man had the ability to virtuously govern himself according to God’s law where enslaving mankind, as he saw it, was "a vile and miserable an estate of man."  He believed that the world was originally held in common where God's grant to Adam covered only the land and brute animals, not human beings. In other words, he believed that God did not grant the kings the right to impose their rule on other people. Locke further supports his view by saying that if Filmer is correct on his theory of divine right of the kings, then there should only be one rightful king in all the world, which being Adam's heir. This, however, will be impossible to discover, meaning that no government, under Filmer's principles, can require its members to obey the God appointed rulers, including England.
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<ref>SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy (pp. 166). New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
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The second treatise focuses on civil aspects of the government. The treatise itself is divided up into a short preface followed by nineteen chapters. The main idea of this treatise focuses on making the point that the government is a deal between the people who are governed and the people doing the governing. The people who are governing have certain obligations to provide it's people with benefits while the people being governed have to bare certain responsibilities towards the government. It is then that the government can function as one political body with its people.
 
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<ref> LOCKE, J., & Shapiro, I. (2003). Two Treatises of Government: And a Letter Concerning Toleration. Yale University Press., pp. 142-143</ref>
 
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<ref> Theriault, S. A. (2009, October 01). John Locke and the Second Treatise on Government. Retrieved May 29, 2017, from http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/6/john-locke-and-the-second-treatise-on-government</ref>
 
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Locke also lays out his theories about power, governance, and reason in the second treatise. He explores the concept of humans state of nature saying that humans are inherently good by nature. They just need a little help from a governing arrangement to structure a common welfare for all the people involved.
 
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<ref> LOCKE, J., & Shapiro, I. (2003). Two Treatises of Government: And a Letter Concerning Toleration. Yale University Press., pp. 102-106</ref>
 
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John Locke began's the second treatise by defining the political power as the right to make laws for the protection and regulation of property. He says that the laws only work if they are accepted by the people and if they promote public good. Locke claims that all men are originally in a state of nature. In this state, Locke says the people are bounded by the laws of nature where each person lives, acts, and uses his possessions as he sees fit without an effective arching government. This creates a lawless community were people only benefit themselves. However, human, according to Locke, are supposed to protect the interests of each other as they are all equal children of god. At the same time, punish those who intend to harm another by compromising his life, liberty, or possessions.
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<ref> LOCKE, J., & Shapiro, I. (2003). Two Treatises of Government: And a Letter Concerning Toleration. Yale University Press., pp. 103-105</ref>
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===Better Government For The People===
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<ref>Herbert, G. (1996). John Locke: Natural Rights and Natural Duties. Jahrbuch Für Recht Und Ethik / Annual Review of Law and Ethics, 4, 591-613. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/43593573</ref>
 
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<ref>Simmons, A. (1989). Locke's State of Nature. Political Theory, 17(3), 449-470. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/191226</ref>
 
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Locke then moves on to talk about differences between the state of nature and the state of war. In the state of war, people exert unwelcome force on other people by interfering with their natural rights and freedom. This is mostly done without common authority. Furthermore, there are two types of state of war: war in society and wars in nature. The difference between them lay in how they end. War in society ends when an act of force is over. This most likely happens when all conflicting parties decide to appeal for a common resolution that is overseen by a common authority. War in nature, however, only ends when the enemy offers complete surrender and agrees to repair damage that is done. Analyzing these facts, Locke claims that majority of the people enter society to avoid the state of wars.       
 
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<ref>Simmons, A. (1989). Locke's State of Nature. Political Theory, 17(3), 449-470. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/191226</ref>
 
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Property is another key subject Locke brings up in the second treatise. Locke first states that the earth is considered the property of all the people where the people can use it for their collective survival and benefits. Locke then considers the concept of individual property where individuals take possession of the things around them. This, however, bring up the question of ownership. Locke defines ownership as labor preformed by a person. He says that a person owns his own body and all the labor preformed by that body. Labor then leads to the ownership of property that the labor relates to. Now when another person adds his own physical labor, which is his own property, to a foreign object or material, then that object and any resulting products also become his property.
 
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<ref> Locke, J. (1988). Locke: Two Treatises of Government Student Edition (P. Peter Laslett, Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press., pp. 101-103 </ref>
 
 
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Locke now moves onto defining the fundamentals of a government for the people. Locke points out two aspects of a government that are revolutionary: the idea of human rights and the idea of a branched government. Human rights, Locke says, are the rights granted to human for being human. He says that these "natural rights" cannot be taken away or rightfully eliminated for anyone. The composition of these natural rights includes three essential components: right of life, the right of liberty and the right of property. The right of life, according to Locke, guarantees each person effectively 'owns' himself. This in short frowns at the idea of enslaving others to one's will. The right of liberty insures individuals the right to do, more or less, what they want with their life. This, once again, frowns at the idea of enslaving someone to do something against their own will, assuming it does not break the societal laws of affecting someone else negatively. The last right, the right of property, ensures that a person's work is only theirs for the benefiting.   
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John Locke now moves onto defining the fundamentals of a government for the people. Locke points out two aspects of a government that are revolutionary: the idea of human rights and the idea of a branched government. The idea of human rights, Locke says, are the rights granted to human for being human. He says that these "natural rights" cannot be taking away or rightfully eliminated for anyone. The composition of these natural rights include three essential components: right of life, the right of liberty and the right of property. The right of life, according to Locke, guarantees each person effectively 'owns' himself. This in short frowns at the idea of enslaving others to one's will. The right of liberty insures individuals the right to do, more or less, what they want with their life. This, once again, frowns at the idea of enslaving someone to do something against their own will, assuming it does not break the societal laws of effecting someone else negatively. The last right, the right of property, ensures that a persons work is only theirs for the benefiting.   
 
 
<ref> Locke, J. (1988). Locke: Two Treatises of Government Student Edition (P. Peter Laslett, Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press., pp. 283-288 </ref>
 
<ref> Locke, J. (1988). Locke: Two Treatises of Government Student Edition (P. Peter Laslett, Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press., pp. 283-288 </ref>
 
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The idea of a branched government, according to Locke, is to limit the power of a government. This is done by keeping all the components within the government in check with one another. For this to happen, Locke calls for a government with strong legislature and an active executive who do not outstrip lawmakers in power. Locke also brings in the idea of having rule of the majority within a government. This, according to him, will help limit the powers of individuals within the government.    
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The idea of a branched government, according to Locke, is a form of government with limited powers to insure it does not become abusive. This is done by keeping all the components within the government in check with each other. For this to happen, Locke calls for a government with strong legislature and an active executive who do not outstrip lawmakers in power. Locke also brings in the idea of having rule of the majority within a government. This will further help limit the power of individuals within the government to prevent tyranny from emerging.  
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<ref> Locke, J. (1988). Locke: Two Treatises of Government Student Edition (P. Peter Laslett, Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press., pp. 331 </ref>
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<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 176-181. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
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<ref> Faulkner, R. (2001). The First Liberal Democrat: Locke's Popular Government. The Review of Politics, 63(1), 5-8. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/1408377</ref>
 
 
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Lastly, Locke explains the idea of rebellion. When the government ceases to function correctly for the people, Locke encourages rebellion and revolution. He says that it is societies obligation to do so.
 
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<ref> Theriault, S. A. (2009, October 01). John Locke and the Second Treatise on Government. Retrieved May 29, 2017, from http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/6/john-locke-and-the-second-treatise-on-government</ref>
 
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===The Two Treatises Impacts on Europe===
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===Right Of Rebellion===
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John Locke had a profound impact on the the thirteen colonies and Europe. His two treaties of government influenced the French and American revolutions. The American revolution, in particular, was heavily influenced by the treaties as it justified the start of the revolution which opposed, what colonists considered, tyranny. Even after the revolution, Locke's treaties continued to influence the development of American government, particularly the U.S. constitution.
 
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<ref> Theriault, S. A. (2009, October 01). John Locke and the Second Treatise on Government. Retrieved May 29, 2017, from http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/6/john-locke-and-the-second-treatise-on-government</ref>   
 
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<ref> Powell, J. (1996, August 01). John Locke: Natural Rights to Life, Liberty, and Property | Jim Powell. Retrieved May 31, 2017, from https://fee.org/articles/john-locke-natural-rights-to-life-liberty-and-property/</ref>
 
 
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Lastly, Locke explains the idea of rebellion. When the ruling government ceases to function correctly for its people, it is then that Locke encourages a rebellion or a revolution. He says that it is society's obligation to do so to prevent tyranny or slavery from taking hold in societies.
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<ref>SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 183. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13</ref>
 
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====American Revolution====
 
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American Revolution started taking shape after the Seven Years' War. The Seven Years' War was a dispute over ownership of the land in the new world. The war ultimately ended with Britain annexing a good deal of French territories in the new worlds, but it came at a high cost putting Britain in great debt. To pay off this debt, Britain started taxing the colonies without representation. Britain justified the taxing by saying that the colonists should help repay the debt because most of the war efforts were used to protect them. This made the colonists mad as they felt like they had no say on this matter and were forced to obey the new unjustly laws. 
 
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<ref> French and Indian War/Seven Years’ War, 1754–63. (n.d.). Retrieved June 01, 2017, from https://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/french-indian-war </ref>
 
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<ref> American Revolution History. (2009). Retrieved June 01, 2017, from http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/american-revolution-history</ref>
 
 
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=Section 2: Deliverable=
 
=Section 2: Deliverable=
 
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Discuss how John Locke's treatises influenced the revolution and also how it influenced the new government.
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In this section, I will explain how John Locke and his ''Two Treatises Of Government'' influenced America. I will first explain how the American Revolution was influenced by ''Two Treatises Of Government''. I will then go on to explain how ''Two Treatises Of Government'' influenced the creation of the American government. I will end this section by discussing how Locke's political views are seen today. 
 
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=Conclusion=
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==Locke's Influence On The American Revolution==
 
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The influence from John Locke's political philosophy can be seen in the events that led up to the revolution. Colonists considered their liberty and their natural rights to be violated by the British government as they passed their acts to raise revenue after the Seven Years' War. The first act, the Stamp Act, was put in place to tax all paper documents within the colonies without the representation of the American colonists. Britain justified this act saying that the colonists were obligated to help repay the debt incurred during the Seven Years' War because most of the war efforts were used to protect them. The colonists did not see it this way. They believed this act was unconstitutional and that it would ultimately lead to the death of journalism as they knew it in the colonies. Furthermore, the colonists felt like they had no say on this political matter that impacted them because they had no representation regarding this act. They saw this as a form of tyranny where they were forced to obey the new unjust laws enforced on them by Britain where it benefited the British government but not its people, the colonists.
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<ref>RAMSBEY, T. (1987). THE SONS OF LIBERTY: THE EARLY INTER-COLONIAL ORGANIZATION. International Review of Modern Sociology, 17(2), 313-335. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/41420902</ref>
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This was clearly a form of rule that Locke would oppose. First of all, Locke was against the idea of tyranny which is outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' explained above. As he saw it, tyranny emerged when the government stopped benefiting its people. This is exactly what the Stamp Act did where it benefited the British government but not the colonists as explained above. Locke, in this case, would call for a rebellion against this injustice and it is exactly what the colonists did. The colonist rebelled against this act with violent mobs that would intimidate stamp collectors into resigning. Their intentions were to have the British government repeal the unjust Stamp Act. Britain complied with the colonist's request of repealing the Stamp Act, but they imposed other acts in its place, such as the Declaratory Act, the Quartering Act, Townshend Acts and Tea Act. These acts continued to raise revenue for the British government along with further restricting the colonist's freedom. <ref>RAMSBEY, T. (1987). THE SONS OF LIBERTY: THE EARLY INTER-COLONIAL ORGANIZATION. International Review of Modern Sociology, 17(2), 313-335. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/41420902</ref> At this point, the colonists felt like they were slaves who were forced to serve a foreign tyrannical government who stripped them of their liberty. Furthermore, the colonists had no representation in their ruling government meaning that this government was not for the people. As such, the colonists called for a revolution, the American Revolution, to overthrow tyrannical British rule over the colonies. Their intentions were to form their own government that would benefit its people. This, once again, is clearly what Locke outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' where he says that the government is for the benefit of the people and if it is not, then it should be overthrown through a revolution.                 
 
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==Locke's Influence On The American Government== 
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|title = American Government
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|caption = <ref group="img"> Vasquez L. (2012). The Branches of Government. Retrieved from https://hubpages.com/education/Why-Three-Branches-of-Government</ref>
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Locke's influence can also be seen in the creation of the American government. The American government was formed after winning the American revolution. The main goal of this government was to serve its people, which was Locke's central theory in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' discussed above. To achieve this, the founding fathers created the Constitution. The Constitution itself had bill of rights that insured life, liberty and property to its people.<ref>Rockman, B., & Waltenburg, E. (2007). The American Constitution, the State, and Executive Prerogative. Zeitschrift Für Staats- Und Europawissenschaften (ZSE) / Journal for Comparative Government and European Policy, 5(3/4), 373-394. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/24237086</ref>
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Locke's political influence can be clearly seen in the creation of this document. The main reason Locke believed individuals joined societies was to protect their property without resorting to the state of war as outlined above. This document precisely did that along with protecting individual's liberty. <br />
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Furthermore, Locke's influence can also be seen in the structure of the American government. The American government consist of three main branches outlined in the constitution: the legislative branch, which makes the laws, the executive branch, which executes the laws, and the judicial branch, which insures that the laws are valid for the people. The idea behind having these three branches are to prevent tyranny from taking hold of the government. This is done by providing each branch with checks and balances over the other branches. These checks and balances will restrict all of the branches from gaining too much power within the government, ultimately reducing the chances of a tyrannical government from emerging.<ref>Rockman, B., & Waltenburg, E. (2007). The American Constitution, the State, and Executive Prerogative. Zeitschrift Für Staats- Und Europawissenschaften (ZSE) / Journal for Comparative Government and European Policy, 5(3/4), 373-394. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/24237086</ref>
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Locke precisely outlined this in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' when he explained the kind of government required for the people as discussed above. Furthermore, each branch also requires the rule of majority to conduct it's desired actions.<ref>Rockman, B., & Waltenburg, E. (2007). The American Constitution, the State, and Executive Prerogative. Zeitschrift Für Staats- Und Europawissenschaften (ZSE) / Journal for Comparative Government and European Policy, 5(3/4), 373-394. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/24237086</ref>  
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This further prevents tyranny from emerging by restricting individual's power over the action taken by the government. This once again is also outlined by Locke  in ''Two Treatises Of Government''.       
 
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==How Is Locke's Political Philosophy Seen In America Today==
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Locke's political views are still valid today. Every person observed in America has their freedom because of the American government. The government itself has stood the test of time where it has successfully served the people to this day. This can be observed throughout history where the government corrected occasions of unjust treatments according to the demands of the people. One such occasion was the movement to allow women to vote. Locke pointed out that every human had the right to life, liberty, and property, also seen in the American Constitution as described above. However, women, despite being human, had their liberty threatened during the early periods of America. Their societal freedom was restricted just because of their gender. The women found this to be unjust and rebelled with protest. The government responded to their protest by assessing their situation and corrected their injustice by giving women equality in societies through the creation of laws, especially regarding the right to vote.
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<ref>Cahill, B. (2015). Where Women Marched—Parades, Meetings, and Other Activities. In Arkansas Women and the Right to Vote: The Little Rock Campaigns: 1868-1920 (pp. 93-99). Little Rock, Arkansas: Butler Center for Arkansas Studies. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt1ffjqhn.23</ref> This goes to show that the American government is there to serve the people, just as Locke pointed out in his ''Two Treatises Of Government'' discussed above. Furthermore, every person in America observed today are considered equal and free in the American society, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, or religion. This is because people in America possess the right to rebel when injustice occurs and the government, overall, continues to correct those injustice by serving the people precisely as Locke envisioned. <br />
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At the same time, the American government shows flaws. There have been instances in history where the government failed to serve its people. One such instance involves slavery. For years, African Americans were considered property. They were enslaved to their American owners and abused as the owners saw fit.
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<ref>Milburn, M., & Conrad, S. (2016). Denial, Slavery, and Racism in America. In Raised to Rage: The Politics of Anger and the Roots of Authoritarianism (pp. 145-166). Cambridge, Massachusetts; London, England: MIT Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt1f2qqt0.12</ref> The display of slavery was against Locke's philosophy on human liberty and also the American Constitution. Locke considered all humans to have the right of liberty, but African Americans were not given this right just because of their race.<ref>Milburn, M., & Conrad, S. (2016). Denial, Slavery, and Racism in America. In Raised to Rage: The Politics of Anger and the Roots of Authoritarianism (pp. 145-166). Cambridge, Massachusetts; London, England: MIT Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt1f2qqt0.12</ref>
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According to Locke and the American Constitution, the government was required to step in and correct this injustice by freeing the slaves. This, however, did not happen, even when the slaves called for justice by showing resistance. Instead, the government created laws to protect slavery, considering slaves to be property, where it neglected its duties to the people under its authority because the slaves were of different race. This injustice was partially corrected by abolishing slavery after years of African Americans suffering.<ref>Milburn, M., & Conrad, S. (2016). Denial, Slavery, and Racism in America. In Raised to Rage: The Politics of Anger and the Roots of Authoritarianism (pp. 145-166). Cambridge, Massachusetts; London, England: MIT Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt1f2qqt0.12</ref><br />
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Even after slavery was abolished, African Americans still weren't granted their full liberty in American society. There were numerous laws put in place by the American government that still restricted their liberty in American society. These laws caused the African Americans to be segregated, where they continued to see oppression in various parts of American society. African Americans protested for liberty and equality but the government refused to serve them. Instead, they opposed their resistance for many years, causing them injustice by doing so. This exemplifies a situation where the American government shows flaws.
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<ref>McCright, A. (2002). American Journal of Sociology, 107(3), 679-716. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/376269</ref> Locke defined a government to serve its people in protecting their rights, but American government failed its duties to the people in the example above. Segregation was abolished after many years of injustice faced by African Americans, where they finally legally received their liberty and equality in American society. This, however, happened after many years of African Americans suffering, where they were denied assistance by the government.
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<ref>McCright, A. (2002). American Journal of Sociology, 107(3), 679-716. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/376269</ref> This is the reason I believe that the American government shows flaws. While the American government, overall, did serve the people of America to this day, it also denied its duties in many instances as described above.                                 
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This milestone covered John Locke's political philosophy outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government''. In his philosophy, Locke determined that the government was for the benefit of the people and as such, he proposed a branched form of government to achieve this. Locke built this political philosophy by understanding the origins of political authority and how it emerged from the state of nature. According to Locke, humans joined societies to protect their property and prevent resorting to the state of war to resolve conflicts. However, early forms of government were monarchy that became tyrannical over time. The kings became abusive of their power forcing their own will on their people causing misery. This was clearly not the reason Locke believed humans joined societies which were ruled by common form of government. As such, Locke proposed the right of rebellion where people were obligated to oppose unjust rule. He also proposed the branched form of government that would prevent tyranny from taking hold of the ruling government. <br />
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American colonists then used Locke’s political philosophy to justify the American Revolution. It was also used to create the American government after winning the revolution where it continued to serve the American people to this day. Further research can be done on this topic to better understand how Locke's philosophy influenced the American history an the modern society         
 
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Latest revision as of 22:44, 22 June 2017

John Locke's Two Treatises of Government

by Milap Patel

Two Treatises of Government
Milestone Image
John Locke

Born: 29 August 1632, Wrington, England

Died: 28 October 1704, High Laver, England
Locke's Work

Two Treatises Of Government

Published On December 1689
Influenced The Glorious Revolution, The American Revolution, And The French Revolution


Abstract


This milestone is about understanding John Locke's political philosophy and how it influenced America. To accomplish this task, I decided to study Locke's most influential work, Two Treatises Of Government. The background of this milestone discusses in depth Locke's philosophy outlined in the Two Treatises Of Government and how that philosophy was influenced according to the state of England during his life. The deliverable then discusses how Locke's philosophy influenced the American Revolution and the creation of the American government that still serves its people to this day. Previously, I have had very little experience in the field of philosophy with no prior classes taken, but understanding Locke's Two Treatises Of Government has provided me with a view on why a government exists and what its obligations are to the people of America.

Introduction


This milestone discusses John Locke's political philosophy outlined in his work Two Treatises Of Government. Locke's political philosophy was very important to the formation of United States as we know it today. Locke came up with his political philosophy in response to the turbulence in England during his time. He was forced to evaluate monarchy and determine if it was the correct form of government for the people. To do this, Locke first looked at the state of nature to understand what forced people to join societies ruled by the government. From there, he determined that monarchy in England was not the right form of government to serve the people because it led to tyranny. In opposition to monarchy, Locke proposed a new form of branched government that would serve the people in protecting their life, liberty, and property. Locke's political ideas were then used to justify the American Revolution along with creating a lasting government that served the people of America to this day.

Section 1: Background


Life In England During The Time Of John Locke

Religious Intolerance
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Picture Puritans: Punishment, 1670s


John Locke was an English philosopher who was born in England in the year 1632. He initially studied medicine at the University of Oxford, graduating with a degree in that field. He later joined Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, assisting him in business and political matters along with being his personal physician. John Locke was deeply influenced during his time with Cooper where he started to study politics. He eventually took a stand against monarchy, believing that the government was for the benefit of the people. [1]

This was clearly not the case during his time. The kings of England, King Charles II and King James II, were abusive of their power, forcing their will on the citizens by passing laws that favored their religious views. These laws caused the people of England misery over religious matters. As such, the people considered monarchy in England a form of tyranny where they believed monarchy stripped them of their freedom and demoted them to a form of slavery, a form where they were forced to obey the unjust king. Furthermore, the people of England considered their ruling government to fail at its obligations to the people and because of this they called for a new form of government that favored the people as a whole, not just a few. These thoughts eventually led to the Glorious Revolution, which took place in 1688, in which the tyrannical monarchy of England was overthrown. Locke's philosophical view on politics in his work, the Two Treatises Of Government, had a major influence on this movement where he tried to justify the fall of monarchy and a creation of a new form of government for the people. [2] [3]

Evaluation Of Two Treatises of Government


Locke's philosophy was deeply religious and deeply influenced by the events that unfolded during his life in England. As such, he tried to understand the essence of government and the reason why it existed in his work, the Two Treatises Of Government. In Two Treatises Of Government, Locke first looked at the state of nature to understand the origins of authority. From there, he concluded that monarchy was not the right form of government for the people, supporting his claims with a religious view. He ended the Two Treatises Of Government by calling for a new form of government to replace monarchy, where the people had power within the ruling government to better protect their life, liberty and property. He also laid out the foundation for rebellion and formation of a new form of government when the immediate ruling government ceased to function for the benefit of the people. [4]

The State Of Nature


John Locke looks at humans in the state of nature in the Second Treatise of his work, the Two Treatises of Government. He claims that all men are originally in the state of nature. In this state, Locke says that all men are perfectly free and perfectly equal without an overseeing government. In other words, Locke implies that people are only bound by the law of nature where each person lives, acts, and uses his possessions as he sees fit without a common authority. The natural law, or the "Fundamental law of Nature," as Locke calls it, is the right to self-preservation. It states that each man is empowered to do whatever is in his power to preserve himself in the state of nature. [5]

The State Of War

Locke's View On State Of Nature
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Locke then moves on to talk about the differences between the state of nature and the state of war in Chapter III if his Second Treatise. In the state of war, people exert unwelcome force on other people by interfering with their natural rights and their freedom. According to Locke, the state of nature which at first is a condition of peace and mutual trust, quickly degenerates into the state of war when a crisis or a disagreement arises between the people. This happens because there is no overseeing authority in the state of nature meaning each individual serves as a judge, jury and executioner of the natural law. This leads to force and violence, the only resolution since common law does not exist between the people. [6] [7]

Property is a key subject Locke brings up in Chapter V of the Second Treatise. In this chapter, he links the human's behavior of acquiring property to the state of war when humans are living in the state of nature. Locke begins this chapter by first stating that the Earth is considered the property of all the people where the people can use it for their collective survival and benefit. Locke writes, "God gave the World to Men in Common, but he gave it to them for their benefits, and the greatest Conveniences of Life they were capable to draw form it." Locke then considers the concept of individual property where individuals take possession of the things around them when in the state of nature. He says, "Human nature is very much that of man as the property-acquiring animal in the state of nature." In other words, Locke is suggesting that humans tend to take possessions of things around them and call them their property. This, however, brings up the question of ownership. Locke defines ownership as labor performed by a person. He writes, "Every man has a Property in his Person. This body has any Right to but himself. The Labour of his Body and the Work of his Hands, we may say, are properly his...For this Labour being the unquestionable Property of the Laborer." In other words, Locke says that a person owns his own body and all the labor performed by that body. Labor then leads to the ownership of property that the labor relates to. Now, when another person adds his own physical labor, which is his own property, to a foreign object or material, then that object and any resulting products also become his property. But in a state of nature, there are no common law to determine who owns what part of an object or fruits of collective labor since each person has his own idea of possession. This ultimately leads to the state of war over the conflict of possession where the resolution ends in violence and dominance of the fittest. [8] [9]

Call For A Government


Locke calls for a government to secure individuals property. As he puts it, the natural law dictates a right of private property, and it is to secure this right that government is established. Locke further explains this by relating it to the state of war. He calls the state of nature "unstable" with no civil authority where people are in constant dispute over the ownership of their property. This prevents peaceful enjoyment of their fruits of labor which are constantly threatened by others around them, causing war and conflict. This is the key reason Locke calls for a common government where common laws can resolve conflicts without resorting to the state of war. Locke writes, "protection of property is the great and chief end of Men's uniting into a commonwealth." [10]

Locke's View Against Monarchy

No Monarchy
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Locke believes that monarchy emerged as an early form of government to protect the people from being in the state of war. He believed that people considered monarchy, or a one-man rule, to be the prime form of government as they moved into societies form the state of nature. The idea behind monarchy was to create laws from one person's perspective that everyone else obeyed, ultimately reducing everyone's individual views on subjects to one common view. Doing this would help create order among the population where common laws would help resolve conflicts in a more peaceful manner, compared to how they were resolved when in the state of nature with multiple individual's views. [11] [12] [13]

Locke, further, goes on to say that monarchy became abusive in England over time. He says that the kings, or the ruling individuals, thought they had the divine right of the kings, granted to them by God, to rule their people as they saw fit. Filmer, in his book called Patriarcha supported this notion by saying that every man is born a slave to the natural born kings. He justifies this claim by relating it to religion, saying that Biblical Adam, in his role as father, was granted ultimate power, by God, over his children and his authority passed down through the generations. In other words, Filmer basically said that the kings were Adam's heirs who held the ultimate power, granted to them by the God, over the residents of this world. [14]

Locke opposed Filmer's notion, in the First Treatise. He said that every man had the ability to virtuously govern himself according to God’s law where enslaving mankind, as he saw it, was "a vile and miserable an estate of man." He believed that the world was originally held in common where God's grant to Adam covered only the land and brute animals, not human beings. In other words, he believed that God did not grant the kings the right to impose their rule on other people. Locke further supports his view by saying that if Filmer is correct on his theory of divine right of the kings, then there should only be one rightful king in all the world, which being Adam's heir. This, however, will be impossible to discover, meaning that no government, under Filmer's principles, can require its members to obey the God appointed rulers, including England. [15]

Better Government For The People


Locke now moves onto defining the fundamentals of a government for the people. Locke points out two aspects of a government that are revolutionary: the idea of human rights and the idea of a branched government. Human rights, Locke says, are the rights granted to human for being human. He says that these "natural rights" cannot be taken away or rightfully eliminated for anyone. The composition of these natural rights includes three essential components: right of life, the right of liberty and the right of property. The right of life, according to Locke, guarantees each person effectively 'owns' himself. This in short frowns at the idea of enslaving others to one's will. The right of liberty insures individuals the right to do, more or less, what they want with their life. This, once again, frowns at the idea of enslaving someone to do something against their own will, assuming it does not break the societal laws of affecting someone else negatively. The last right, the right of property, ensures that a person's work is only theirs for the benefiting. [16]
The idea of a branched government, according to Locke, is a form of government with limited powers to insure it does not become abusive. This is done by keeping all the components within the government in check with each other. For this to happen, Locke calls for a government with strong legislature and an active executive who do not outstrip lawmakers in power. Locke also brings in the idea of having rule of the majority within a government. This will further help limit the power of individuals within the government to prevent tyranny from emerging. [17]

Right Of Rebellion


Lastly, Locke explains the idea of rebellion. When the ruling government ceases to function correctly for its people, it is then that Locke encourages a rebellion or a revolution. He says that it is society's obligation to do so to prevent tyranny or slavery from taking hold in societies. [18]

Section 2: Deliverable


In this section, I will explain how John Locke and his Two Treatises Of Government influenced America. I will first explain how the American Revolution was influenced by Two Treatises Of Government. I will then go on to explain how Two Treatises Of Government influenced the creation of the American government. I will end this section by discussing how Locke's political views are seen today.

Locke's Influence On The American Revolution


The influence from John Locke's political philosophy can be seen in the events that led up to the revolution. Colonists considered their liberty and their natural rights to be violated by the British government as they passed their acts to raise revenue after the Seven Years' War. The first act, the Stamp Act, was put in place to tax all paper documents within the colonies without the representation of the American colonists. Britain justified this act saying that the colonists were obligated to help repay the debt incurred during the Seven Years' War because most of the war efforts were used to protect them. The colonists did not see it this way. They believed this act was unconstitutional and that it would ultimately lead to the death of journalism as they knew it in the colonies. Furthermore, the colonists felt like they had no say on this political matter that impacted them because they had no representation regarding this act. They saw this as a form of tyranny where they were forced to obey the new unjust laws enforced on them by Britain where it benefited the British government but not its people, the colonists. [19]

This was clearly a form of rule that Locke would oppose. First of all, Locke was against the idea of tyranny which is outlined in the Two Treatises Of Government explained above. As he saw it, tyranny emerged when the government stopped benefiting its people. This is exactly what the Stamp Act did where it benefited the British government but not the colonists as explained above. Locke, in this case, would call for a rebellion against this injustice and it is exactly what the colonists did. The colonist rebelled against this act with violent mobs that would intimidate stamp collectors into resigning. Their intentions were to have the British government repeal the unjust Stamp Act. Britain complied with the colonist's request of repealing the Stamp Act, but they imposed other acts in its place, such as the Declaratory Act, the Quartering Act, Townshend Acts and Tea Act. These acts continued to raise revenue for the British government along with further restricting the colonist's freedom. [20] At this point, the colonists felt like they were slaves who were forced to serve a foreign tyrannical government who stripped them of their liberty. Furthermore, the colonists had no representation in their ruling government meaning that this government was not for the people. As such, the colonists called for a revolution, the American Revolution, to overthrow tyrannical British rule over the colonies. Their intentions were to form their own government that would benefit its people. This, once again, is clearly what Locke outlined in the Two Treatises Of Government where he says that the government is for the benefit of the people and if it is not, then it should be overthrown through a revolution.

Locke's Influence On The American Government

American Government
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Picture The Branches Of American Government


Locke's influence can also be seen in the creation of the American government. The American government was formed after winning the American revolution. The main goal of this government was to serve its people, which was Locke's central theory in Two Treatises Of Government discussed above. To achieve this, the founding fathers created the Constitution. The Constitution itself had bill of rights that insured life, liberty and property to its people.[21] Locke's political influence can be clearly seen in the creation of this document. The main reason Locke believed individuals joined societies was to protect their property without resorting to the state of war as outlined above. This document precisely did that along with protecting individual's liberty.
Furthermore, Locke's influence can also be seen in the structure of the American government. The American government consist of three main branches outlined in the constitution: the legislative branch, which makes the laws, the executive branch, which executes the laws, and the judicial branch, which insures that the laws are valid for the people. The idea behind having these three branches are to prevent tyranny from taking hold of the government. This is done by providing each branch with checks and balances over the other branches. These checks and balances will restrict all of the branches from gaining too much power within the government, ultimately reducing the chances of a tyrannical government from emerging.[22] Locke precisely outlined this in the Two Treatises Of Government when he explained the kind of government required for the people as discussed above. Furthermore, each branch also requires the rule of majority to conduct it's desired actions.[23] This further prevents tyranny from emerging by restricting individual's power over the action taken by the government. This once again is also outlined by Locke in Two Treatises Of Government.

How Is Locke's Political Philosophy Seen In America Today


Locke's political views are still valid today. Every person observed in America has their freedom because of the American government. The government itself has stood the test of time where it has successfully served the people to this day. This can be observed throughout history where the government corrected occasions of unjust treatments according to the demands of the people. One such occasion was the movement to allow women to vote. Locke pointed out that every human had the right to life, liberty, and property, also seen in the American Constitution as described above. However, women, despite being human, had their liberty threatened during the early periods of America. Their societal freedom was restricted just because of their gender. The women found this to be unjust and rebelled with protest. The government responded to their protest by assessing their situation and corrected their injustice by giving women equality in societies through the creation of laws, especially regarding the right to vote. [24] This goes to show that the American government is there to serve the people, just as Locke pointed out in his Two Treatises Of Government discussed above. Furthermore, every person in America observed today are considered equal and free in the American society, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, or religion. This is because people in America possess the right to rebel when injustice occurs and the government, overall, continues to correct those injustice by serving the people precisely as Locke envisioned.
At the same time, the American government shows flaws. There have been instances in history where the government failed to serve its people. One such instance involves slavery. For years, African Americans were considered property. They were enslaved to their American owners and abused as the owners saw fit. [25] The display of slavery was against Locke's philosophy on human liberty and also the American Constitution. Locke considered all humans to have the right of liberty, but African Americans were not given this right just because of their race.[26] According to Locke and the American Constitution, the government was required to step in and correct this injustice by freeing the slaves. This, however, did not happen, even when the slaves called for justice by showing resistance. Instead, the government created laws to protect slavery, considering slaves to be property, where it neglected its duties to the people under its authority because the slaves were of different race. This injustice was partially corrected by abolishing slavery after years of African Americans suffering.[27]
Even after slavery was abolished, African Americans still weren't granted their full liberty in American society. There were numerous laws put in place by the American government that still restricted their liberty in American society. These laws caused the African Americans to be segregated, where they continued to see oppression in various parts of American society. African Americans protested for liberty and equality but the government refused to serve them. Instead, they opposed their resistance for many years, causing them injustice by doing so. This exemplifies a situation where the American government shows flaws. [28] Locke defined a government to serve its people in protecting their rights, but American government failed its duties to the people in the example above. Segregation was abolished after many years of injustice faced by African Americans, where they finally legally received their liberty and equality in American society. This, however, happened after many years of African Americans suffering, where they were denied assistance by the government. [29] This is the reason I believe that the American government shows flaws. While the American government, overall, did serve the people of America to this day, it also denied its duties in many instances as described above.

Conclusion


This milestone covered John Locke's political philosophy outlined in Two Treatises Of Government. In his philosophy, Locke determined that the government was for the benefit of the people and as such, he proposed a branched form of government to achieve this. Locke built this political philosophy by understanding the origins of political authority and how it emerged from the state of nature. According to Locke, humans joined societies to protect their property and prevent resorting to the state of war to resolve conflicts. However, early forms of government were monarchy that became tyrannical over time. The kings became abusive of their power forcing their own will on their people causing misery. This was clearly not the reason Locke believed humans joined societies which were ruled by common form of government. As such, Locke proposed the right of rebellion where people were obligated to oppose unjust rule. He also proposed the branched form of government that would prevent tyranny from taking hold of the ruling government.
American colonists then used Locke’s political philosophy to justify the American Revolution. It was also used to create the American government after winning the revolution where it continued to serve the American people to this day. Further research can be done on this topic to better understand how Locke's philosophy influenced the American history an the modern society

Text References

  1. ↑ Schwoerer, L. (1990). Locke, Lockean Ideas, and the Glorious Revolution. Journal of the History of Ideas, 51(4), 531-548. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/2709645
  2. ↑ Schwoerer, L. (1990). Locke, Lockean Ideas, and the Glorious Revolution. Journal of the History of Ideas, 51(4), 531-548. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/2709645
  3. ↑ Giffin, F. (1967). John Locke and Religious Toleration. Journal of Church and State, 9(3), 378-390. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/23913736
  4. ↑ Thomas, D. (1962). The Political Philosophy of John Locke. Philosophy, 37(141), 260. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3748443
  5. ↑ Goldwin, R. (1976). Locke's State of Nature in Political Society. The Western Political Quarterly, pp. 126-135. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/447588
  6. ↑ Simmons, A. (1989). Locke's State of Nature. Political Theory, 17(3), 449-470. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/191226
  7. ↑ SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 167-168. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13
  8. ↑ Locke, J. (1988). Locke: Two Treatises of Government Student Edition (P. Peter Laslett, Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press., pp. 101-103
  9. ↑ SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13
  10. ↑ SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13
  11. ↑ Simmons, A. (1993). THE LOCKEAN STATE OF NATURE. In On the Edge of Anarchy: Locke, Consent, and the Limits of Society (pp. 13-39). Princeton University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt7zv047.7
  12. ↑ Flannery, K., & Marcus, J. (2012). The Nursery of Civilization. In The Creation of Inequality: How Our Prehistoric Ancestors Set the Stage for Monarchy, Slavery, and Empire (pp. 448-474). Cambridge, Massachusetts; London, England: Harvard University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt2jbvjr.24
  13. ↑ Flannery, K., & Marcus, J. (2012). The Land of the Scorpion King. In The Creation of Inequality: How Our Prehistoric Ancestors Set the Stage for Monarchy, Slavery, and Empire (pp. 394-421). Cambridge, Massachusetts; London, England: Harvard University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt2jbvjr.22
  14. ↑ SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy (pp. 166). New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13
  15. ↑ SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy (pp. 166). New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13
  16. ↑ Locke, J. (1988). Locke: Two Treatises of Government Student Edition (P. Peter Laslett, Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press., pp. 283-288
  17. ↑ SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 176-181. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13
  18. ↑ SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 183. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13
  19. ↑ RAMSBEY, T. (1987). THE SONS OF LIBERTY: THE EARLY INTER-COLONIAL ORGANIZATION. International Review of Modern Sociology, 17(2), 313-335. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/41420902
  20. ↑ RAMSBEY, T. (1987). THE SONS OF LIBERTY: THE EARLY INTER-COLONIAL ORGANIZATION. International Review of Modern Sociology, 17(2), 313-335. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/41420902
  21. ↑ Rockman, B., & Waltenburg, E. (2007). The American Constitution, the State, and Executive Prerogative. Zeitschrift Für Staats- Und Europawissenschaften (ZSE) / Journal for Comparative Government and European Policy, 5(3/4), 373-394. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/24237086
  22. ↑ Rockman, B., & Waltenburg, E. (2007). The American Constitution, the State, and Executive Prerogative. Zeitschrift Für Staats- Und Europawissenschaften (ZSE) / Journal for Comparative Government and European Policy, 5(3/4), 373-394. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/24237086
  23. ↑ Rockman, B., & Waltenburg, E. (2007). The American Constitution, the State, and Executive Prerogative. Zeitschrift Für Staats- Und Europawissenschaften (ZSE) / Journal for Comparative Government and European Policy, 5(3/4), 373-394. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/24237086
  24. ↑ Cahill, B. (2015). Where Women Marched—Parades, Meetings, and Other Activities. In Arkansas Women and the Right to Vote: The Little Rock Campaigns: 1868-1920 (pp. 93-99). Little Rock, Arkansas: Butler Center for Arkansas Studies. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt1ffjqhn.23
  25. ↑ Milburn, M., & Conrad, S. (2016). Denial, Slavery, and Racism in America. In Raised to Rage: The Politics of Anger and the Roots of Authoritarianism (pp. 145-166). Cambridge, Massachusetts; London, England: MIT Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt1f2qqt0.12
  26. ↑ Milburn, M., & Conrad, S. (2016). Denial, Slavery, and Racism in America. In Raised to Rage: The Politics of Anger and the Roots of Authoritarianism (pp. 145-166). Cambridge, Massachusetts; London, England: MIT Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt1f2qqt0.12
  27. ↑ Milburn, M., & Conrad, S. (2016). Denial, Slavery, and Racism in America. In Raised to Rage: The Politics of Anger and the Roots of Authoritarianism (pp. 145-166). Cambridge, Massachusetts; London, England: MIT Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt1f2qqt0.12
  28. ↑ McCright, A. (2002). American Journal of Sociology, 107(3), 679-716. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/376269
  29. ↑ McCright, A. (2002). American Journal of Sociology, 107(3), 679-716. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/376269


Image References

  1. ↑ Locke, J. (2014). Two Treatises of Government. Retrieved from https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51p0r-FE36L._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
  2. ↑ Granger (2012). Puritans: Punishment, 1670s. Retrieved from https://fineartamerica.com/featured/puritans-punishment-1670s-granger.html
  3. ↑ (2016). Humans In Nature. Retrieved from http://plus-ultra.hatenablog.com/entry/2016/01/17/080907
  4. ↑ Mast M. (2013). Monarchy versus republicanism: does a naturalized citizen not have a choice?. Retrieved from https://www.compas.ox.ac.uk/2013/monarchy-versus-republicanism-does-a-naturalised-citizen-not-have-a-choice/
  5. ↑ Vasquez L. (2012). The Branches of Government. Retrieved from https://hubpages.com/education/Why-Three-Branches-of-Government



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