How Did John Locke Contribute To The French Revolution

From the French Revolution to the Declaration of Independence, generations of political thinkers have practiced dissension to promote democracy. Coming to light in the 5th century, Europe was wrought with ten centuries of monarchical corruption known as the Middle Ages or, more aptly, the Dark Ages. There existed little philosophical ideas, rather it was commonly believed that the people with power were also the wisest. Several later philosophers rejected this notion, referencing the ancient ideas of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. These philosophers were instrumental in instigating revolutions against monarchies in favor of democratic systems of government. Of these were John Locke, François-Marie Arouet, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Charles-Louis de Secondat. Thomas Hobbes also contributed greatly to the philosophy of the time, however, his ideas were oppositional to those of the enlightened thinkers, adopting a viewpoint
Considered the father of liberalism, Locke advocated that all human beings are granted inalienable rights from God. In addition, Locke believed that all men are created equal, a philosophical belief that was also promoted by Hobbes. Locke found that no one has power over another or the right to abuse another in the state of nature, giving a more liberal definition to Hobbes’ equality. Locke did not believe that humans exist in a state of war; men do not fight one another to obtain their own success. Politically, Locke surmised that the most effective form of government was that of a democratic republic, in which the majority make political decisions, but individual rights are respected. While the majority could become oppressive, the individual’s fears of being oppressed lessen the probability of this happening. John Locke’s philosophy of individual rights laid the foundations for a major democratic uprising all over the