In the first treatise: John Locke is criticizing Robert Filmer's Patriarcha. Locke states that Filmer has to be incorrect due to one of his theories saying that every man is born a slave to the natural born kings. Locke refuses to accept this theory because Locke believes in reason and the ability of every man to grow and govern himself. This occurs in the the Founding Father's underpinnings of our nation as Deism played a major role in creating the principles of religious freedom by Thomas Jefferson.
Deism is the belief in reason and observation of the natural world.
Some Founding Fathers that were influenced by Deism were Benjamin Franklin, Cornelius Harnett, Gouverneur Morris, and Hugh Williamson. While other Founding Fathers that may have been more deist were James Madison, possibly Alexander Hamilton, and Ethan Allen. While the beginning of the second treatise, Locke defines political power as making laws for protection and regulation of property. Also he believes that these laws only work because their acceptance by the people for the public good. This shows up in arguments and discussions of our Founding Fathers as there "Unalienable Rights" of Life, Liberty and Property.
Later in his second treatise, Locke states the difference between the state of nature and the state of war. He believes that the state of nature takes people living together, governed by reason, without the need of a higher appointed official and that a state of war occurs when people put unneeded force on some other people, taking away their natural rights without a common authority.
"Whosoever uses force without right...puts himself into a state of war with those against whom he so uses it, and in that state all former ties are canceled, all other rights cease, and every one has a right to defend himself, and to resist the aggressor..." "A state also of equality, wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another..."
Thomas Jefferson uses this in the Declaration of Independence as he states that all "men are created equal" and that is is the people's "right... to throw off such a government".
Throughout the end of the second treatise, Locke stresses the rule of the majority as the best possible choice for a government. Locke also states three elements that would create and ideal government. Those three elements were: an established law, an impartial body to give judgment, and the power to support the judgments.
These ideas were eminent in the US Constitution as well as the discussions of the Founding Fathers. That the only valid government is based on the consent of the governed. Also that America's three branches of government (Judicial, Executive, and Legislative) were based on Locke's three ideal elements of a successful government.
Deism is the belief in reason and observation of the natural world.
Some Founding Fathers that were influenced by Deism were Benjamin Franklin, Cornelius Harnett, Gouverneur Morris, and Hugh Williamson. While other Founding Fathers that may have been more deist were James Madison, possibly Alexander Hamilton, and Ethan Allen.
While the beginning of the second treatise, Locke defines political power as making laws for protection and regulation of property. Also he believes that these laws only work because their acceptance by the people for the public good. This shows up in arguments and discussions of our Founding Fathers as there "Unalienable Rights" of Life, Liberty and Property.
Later in his second treatise, Locke states the difference between the state of nature and the state of war. He believes that the state of nature takes people living together, governed by reason, without the need of a higher appointed official and that a state of war occurs when people put unneeded force on some other people, taking away their natural rights without a common authority.
"Whosoever uses force without right...puts himself into a state of war with those against whom he so uses it, and in that state all former ties are canceled, all other rights cease, and every one has a right to defend himself, and to resist the aggressor..."
"A state also of equality, wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another..."
Thomas Jefferson uses this in the Declaration of Independence as he states that all "men are created equal" and that is is the people's "right... to throw off such a government".
Throughout the end of the second treatise, Locke stresses the rule of the majority as the best possible choice for a government. Locke also states three elements that would create and ideal government. Those three elements were: an established law, an impartial body to give judgment, and the power to support the judgments.
These ideas were eminent in the US Constitution as well as the discussions of the Founding Fathers. That the only valid government is based on the consent of the governed. Also that America's three branches of government (Judicial, Executive, and Legislative) were based on Locke's three ideal elements of a successful government.