An Analysis Of John Locke's Two Treatises Of Government

Since 1787, America has been governed by the same document: the Constitution. This document, although amendments have been added to it, has stated relatively the same since the founding fathers wrote it.Even though it was written during a time of Kings and Queens, the enlightened thinkers and documents that influenced it caused its worth to outlive its contributors. With ideas that challenged the legitimacy of a King's rule, such as those by John Locke and presented in the Magna Carta, to seemingly simpler ideas such as equal rights for all, the Constitution allowed colonist to develop a country that was united through oppressive acts, such as the Stamp Act, and ready to stand on its own.
John Locke, an English philosopher, is known as one of the most influential enlightenment thinkers. His work, “Two Treatises of Government”, not only challenged the authority and legitimacy of a King’s rule, but also established ideas that, although fostered by some, were not actively practiced. These ideas, such as consent of the governed, inspired colonist when writing the Constitution. In his work, “Two Treatises of Government”, Locke stated:

“Whensoever, therefore, the legislative [power] shall transgress [go beyond; break] this fundamental rule of society, and either by
ambition, fear, folly, or corruption, endeavor to grasp themselves, or put into the hands of any other, an absolute power over the lives, liberties, and estates of the people, by this breach of trust they forfeit the power the people had put into their hands for quite contrary ends, and it devolves [passes] to the people; who have a right to resume their original liberty, and by the establishment of a new legislative (such as they shall think fit), provide for their own safety and security . . .”

Here, Locke presents the idea of the ‘consent of the governed’.
This idea, challenged the King’s authority, who had power to rule from God rather than from the people. Not only did Locke believe that a government is formed from the will of the people, but he also believed that if said government “shall transgress this fundamental rule of society” then “they forfeit the power the people had put into their hands”; meaning that if a government falls the people, then the people have the right to overthrow and replace it. This concept of a government being replaced after it falls its people is still precedented to in the form of impeachment., which can be found in Article 1, Section 3 of the
Constitution.