John Locke's "Second Treatise- and his idea of the "social contract- was a major influence upon the construction of the constitution. ... Also, Locke argued that revolution was not only a choice but in some cases an obligation when faced with tyranny. ... Though some northern states adopted some form of emancipation, the Constitution's omission of slavery would lead to the Civil War. ... Under Chief Justice John Marshall, the role of the courts amplified. ... The fourteenth amendment came to become an important implementation tool for many civil right cases. ...

• Word Count: 1390
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate