Assignment 1.2: Philosopher Multimedia Project: John Locke by Reestyn Boucher

1921093 — 2025-06-25 20:39:54 UTC

Thomas Jefferson, in the Declaration of Independence, wrote that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." This concept of "Natural Rights" originated from John Locke as he emphasized that there are certain rights, God-given, that cannot be taken away: "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Locke strongly believed that these rights are "inalienable," and that the purpose of government was to protect them.

1921093 — 2025-06-25 20:41:32 UTC

Sources:

1) https://portal.ct.gov/sots/register-manual/section-i/declaration-of-independence-us-constitution#:~:text=We%20hold%20these%20truths%20to,and%20the%20pursuit%20of%20happiness.

2) https://teachdemocracy.org/online-lessons/foundations-of-our-constitution/natural-rights#:~:text=That%20is%2C%20rights%20that%20are,is%20the%20preservation%20of%20mankind.

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1921093 — 2025-06-25 21:38:39 UTC

In 1689, John Locke wrote "A Letter Concerning Toleration," which was to share his belief that no fair government could impose on one's right to choose their own religion. Locke thought that everyone should have freedom from being forced into any one religion, saying that "[F]aith is not faith, without believing." This inspired our founding fathers when developing the Constitution, as seen in the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

1921093 — 2025-06-25 21:39:10 UTC

Sources:

1) https://billofrightsinstitute.org/essays/rights-and-the-declaration-of-independence

2) https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/#:~:text=Congress%20shall%20make%20no%20law,for%20a%20redress%20of%20grievances.

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1921093 — 2025-06-25 21:47:03 UTC

Though Montesquieu may be known for the later specification of the United States' three branches of government (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial), John Locke had shared his beliefs on the importance of separation of powers before this formulation. Locke believed in the importance of freely elected representatives. He also believed in the concept of having separate powers with different authority levels over different issues. These concepts, though slightly different, are seen in the U.S. Constitution in Article I, II, and III, where our Founding Fathers lay out the specific branches.

1921093 — 2025-06-25 22:17:02 UTC

In his book, "Two Treatises of Government," John Locke wrote, "Government is based on the consent of the governed; and once the people form a government, a majority has the authority to govern." This concept of "consent of the governed" was inspiration for our Founding Fathers when creating the Declaration of Independence: "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed." This concept means that the actions by a government are only lawful and just if they are consented to by the people being governed.

1921093 — 2025-06-25 22:18:23 UTC

Sources:

1) https://www.democracyweb.org/study-guide/consent-of-the-governed/essential-principles#:~:text=The%20most%20fundamental%20concept%20of,by%20those%20who%20support%20democracy.

2) https://constitutioncenter.org/education/classroom-resource-library/classroom/john-locke-profile#:~:text=Government%20is%20based%20on%20the,another%2C%20without%20his%20own%20consent.

3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consent_of_the_governed

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1921093 — 2025-06-25 22:42:32 UTC

Sources:

1) https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke-political/#SepaPoweDissGove

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1921093 — 2025-06-25 22:52:09 UTC

John Locke's view on punishment had inspired our Founding Fathers when writing the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which surrounds "Freedom from excessive bail, fines, and cruel punishments.” John Locke believed that the purpose of a government was to protect the rights of the people. The Eighth Amendment represents this belief as it insures protection from mistreatment and unjust punishment, further protecting the peoples' natural rights.

1921093 — 2025-06-25 22:53:02 UTC

Sources:

1) https://docmckee.com/cj/docs-criminal-justice-glossary/john-locke-definition/#google_vignette

2) https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke-political/#LockPuni

3) https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/constitutional-amendments-amendment-8-freedom-excessive-bail-fines-and-cruel-punishments#:~:text=ADDITIONAL%20RESOURCES-,Constitutional%20Amendments%20%E2%80%93%20Amendment%208%20%E2%80%93%20%E2%80%9CFreedom%20from%20excessive%20bail%2C,fines%2C%20and%20cruel%20punishments.%E2%80%9D&text=Amendment%20Eight%20to%20the%20Constitution%20was%20ratified%20on%20December%2015%2C%201791.

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