New thinking and writings that came out of the Enlightenment period much influenced the ideology of the American colonists. Perhaps most important was John Locke and his essays on the Treatise of Government and Concerning Human Understanding. Locke argued that people had natural rights and liberties that allowed man to do whatever he wanted to do without the arbitrary or absolute power of another man. In this state of natural right, people were allotted the basic rights of life, liberty, and property. Locke believe that contracts were binding, and if people entered into a "social contract" with government, and the government ends up infringing on these natural rights, the people then have the right to resist their government. Prior to the revolution, the British Parliament was certainly an arbitrary and absolute power over the colonies. .
The oppositionists were political writers who feared that the Parliament, the freely elected representatives of the people who established the basis for political liberty and protection from tyranny, were buying elections from voters. Thus, the oppositionists feared that the Parliament no longer represented the people, and that the "elected" officials were out to destroy liberty. The oppositionists referred to themselves as the "country party." They were not, of course, the only ones who began questioning English government, however. English radicals such as Joseph Priestly and James Burgh collected ideas from Enlightenment and oppositionist authors and found that "at the heart of all political relationships raged a struggle between the aggressive extension of artificial power and the natural liberty of the people." People must make sure to avoid corruption in their own lives and most of all, "remain alert for "conspiracies."".
Soon after these ideologies emerged, colonists themselves identified the Stamp Act conspiracies by the British that was designed to induce rebellion, and then in turn punishment by Great Britain.
John Locke is one of most important Enlightenment philosophers throughout history because his philosophies are still used today . John Locke's philosophies were influenced by his life and work. ... John Locke's work influenced his philosophies. ... John Locke's life also influenced his philosophies. ... Lockean Thought supports John Locke's theories and ideas. ...
Throughout history there have been many great philosophers. ... John Locke, who was born in 17th century England, was a philosopher and physician and to this day is regarded as one of the most influential philosophers of all time. ... Thomas Jefferson, who originally wrote the Declaration of Independence, respected John Locke immensely. ... Locke was basically putting his life on the line when he wrote his book because it was written at a tumultuous time in European history when monarchy was prevalent. ... Locke and Jefferson. ...
Like Montesquieu, John Locke, an English philosopher, also believed that the best form of government is a democracy with the power divided among three branches. Locke believed that the reason people form governments is to protect there "natural rights," these being life, liberty, and property. ... Unlike many people of the time, Locke did not believe that God had chosen a group or family of people to rule countries. ... Locke wrote, "[We have learned from] history we have reason to conclude that all peaceful beginnings of government have been laid in the consent of the people." ... The prin...
Introduction The assignment is based on the whole character sketch of John Locke and what he felt about almost everything in the spheres of Politics. ... There are people who can go on cribbing about their problems, but John Locke was different, he studied them and experimented and made an attempt to understand why it all happens in the first place, this also could be because he had a background in science as we will learn ahead, which led him to postulating. ... John Locke – Life Sketch Locke is the greatest figure in the history of political thought. ... John Locke was considered ...
Although not specific, it is clear that the Founding Fathers inspiration for rebellion and abolition came from John Locke. ... John Locke extends the role of the state of nature into the idea of property. ... When Jefferson made his list of facts concerning the king's oppression of the states, it is clear that the pursuit of property would look very limiting to John Locke. ... The founders very clearly used John Locke's discussion of the state of nature, property protection, and the necessity for rebellion when it came to writing the Declaration of Independence. ... Since it take...
Throughout U.S. history there have been numerous important people that helped guide and shape this country to what it is today. Three people that didn't take place in the forming of the constitution but influenced it greatly from there beliefs are Thomas Hobbes, Baron de Montesquieu and John Locke. ... John Locke born in England in 1632 was also a highly educated man for his time period attending Oxford University in England. ... Locke felt the government should come from the consent of the governed, meaning the people. ... John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Baron de Montesquieu all having di...
John Locke was born on August 29, 1632, near Bristol, England. ... John Locke however, did not receive his degree in medicine from Oxford until 1674. ... A pivotal event of European history in the eighteenth century was the French Revolution. ... These concepts originated from the philosophies of John Locke. ... Certainly John Locke had an influential voice to be heard by the people. ...
Compare and contrast between Hobbes and Locke on their views of the natural conditions of man. ... With Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, one could certainly argue this point. Both were exposed to a tumultuous time in England history and lived through a civil war. ... Locke sees man as working toward a common good, peace. ... Like Hobbes, Locke believed that self-preservation of man is very important because of his right to life but Locke gave more consideration to the idea of revolution. ...
British philosopher John Locke (1632-1704) published several major philosophical works in the late 17th Century. ... While Locke came from a Puritan background and studied medicine at Oxford, his overriding passion was for thought - philosophy. ... Locke's assertion is that no one can be subjected to the political power of another without his own consent. ... In Locke's state of Natural Law, the individual has absolute power over himself, his life, his liberty and his estate. ... By joining into communities, Locke says, and history has proven, all men can enjoy their property s...