John Locke's Second Treatise Of Government

English philosopher John Locke influenced the American Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson, on the ideas of tyranny, natural rights and the separation of power within government. In Locke’s First and Second Treatise of Government he establishes the belief that would eventually be called, Liberalism; that the people should govern themselves. Locke’s works helped shaped Jefferson and the United States of America through his ideologies.

The purpose of government is to assist and aid its citizens in a stable and fair economy, and to protect them from foreign aggression. If the government fails to provide this, then through elections the people have the right to elect those who are more inclined to govern by providing the wants and needs of
the people. “Exercise of power beyond right, which nobody can have a right to. And this is making use of the power any one has in his hands, not for the good of those who are under it, but for his own private separate advantage,” (John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, Chapter XVIII, Article 199). Time has proven that the western world has been more successful governing through a Republican system described by Locke. Those countries that have used dictatorships or monarchies did not fair as well in the world both socially and economically. For example, Germany during post World War II was very successful economically but socially only a portion of the population repeated the benefits. “The power not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states, respectively, or to the people,” (James Madison, Bill of Rights, Amendment X). Although James Madison is credited with writing the American Constitution, his friendship with Jefferson greatly influenced the Bill of Rights. Locke’s influence over Jefferson in the idea that man has value regardless of social status would eventually lay the foundation for what America is known for, “the American Dream.” This freedom from tyranny has allowed them the opportunity to advance in society through hard work and dedication.

The American system allows the government to be changed or altered to fit the needs of the people.
This form of government is flexible thereby reducing the possibility of anarchy. “When the government is dissolved, the people are at liberty to provide for themselves, by erecting a new legislative, differing from the other, by the change of persons, or form, or both, as they shall find it most for their safety and good,” (John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, Chapter XIX, Article 220). The American two party system allows the people to differ in their ideas from each other on how the government should lead. Through the election of representatives the people can decide what actions the government will take. “We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us… We must, therefore acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation,” (Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence, Paragraph 5). To prevent representatives from gaining to much power, term limits have been placed on both the Executive and Legislative Branches. To farther reduce the President from obtaining to much influence over government he is allowed only two, four-year terms. The Legislative Branch is broken into two bodies the House and the Senate. By constant elections it farther reduces either body from becoming too powerful over the
other.

The idea of Natural Rights is that at birth, all are created equal and have the freedom to think and act as they see fit.
Locke’s ideas may have contributed to the Glorious Revolution in England, which started the idea of a Parliamentary government; which would eventually succeed monarchies. “The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it… no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions,” (John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, Chapter II, Article 6). Jefferson became more in tune with Locke’s writings as the British exerted more control over the Colonies and increased taxes, “taxation without representation.” Based on that, the Founding Father’s decided to organize and form an independent country that was self-governing with the rights of its citizens at the forefront. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” (Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence, Article 2). Is evident through the Declaration of Independence and Constitution that the most important thing to Jefferson and the Founding Fathers was individual rights and freedom. The Articles of Confederation gave power to each state independently but did not set forth a central governing body overall. This flaw leads to the creation of America’s current Constitution, which established the laws that
united the states together, forming the United States of America.

Each state has the same responsibilities to the central government and the government to the state. Although all citizens are created equal, individuality in state law is permitted to accommodate the specific needs of its population. “A state also of equality, wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another; there being nothing more evident, than that creatures of the same species and rank, promiscuously born to all the same advantages of nature,” (John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, Chapter II, Article 4). Although the idea of equality was originally intended for white men with property this would set the foundation for future social movements like the rights of women and minorities. It is believed that Jefferson was in favor of giving more rights to all but the times dictated that it was not possible to enact. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment…. Abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peacefully to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances,” (James Madison, Bill of Rights, Amendment I). As previously stated Jefferson had a major impact on Madison’s writing through their friendship. By analyzing Amendment I, it is evident that individual rights and freedoms should not be restricted as long as it does not harm others. Throughout the Constitution the overall theme is the important of freedom for all. In theory, the more power is divided, the less likely corruption is able to exist. This is why there are many layers of power within an organized structure. “It may be too great a temptation to humane frailty apt to grasp at Power, for the same Persons who have the Power of making Laws, to have also in their hands the power to execute them… to their own private advantage,” (John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, Chapter 12, Article 143, Paragraph 1). Locke understood that too much power in the hands of few would corrupt those that had the power. He expressed the idea of dividing the power amongst many to reduce the risk of corruption, which is the basis for separation of powers. To create a balanced and manageable government, the different compartments must work separately and learn to cooperate with each other to produce the desired result. “The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature… The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislator thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote,” (James Madison, United States Constitution, Article 1, Section 2 and 3). Locke’s ideas are found throughout the writing of the American Founding Father’s primarily because of Jefferson who adopted Locke’s philosophies. Jefferson believed that it would farther the ability of society to function with a minimal of governmental interference, which would allow the people to produce goods and services more efficiently.

Separation of power is based on a particular unit having specific influence over a portion of the total organization. This allows many groups to have individual capabilities that differ from the other groups but assists in administration of the whole. “In all Cases, whilst the Government subsists, the Legislative is the Supream Power. For what can give Laws to another, must needs be superiour to him: and since the Legislative is no otherwise Legislative of the Society, but by the right it has to make Laws for all the parts and for every Member of the Society,” (John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, Chapter 13, Article 150, Paragraph 1). Checks and balances have been set forth to ensure that no branch of government is all-powerful. Locke feared a single body would be too powerful and may become unjust for individual gain. “The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows,” (James Madison, United States Constitution, Article 2, Section 1). The United States Constitution was designed so that each branch of government was responsible for a specific task, i.e. Legislative Branch writes the laws, the Executive Branch administers the laws and the Judicial Branch ensures that all laws and actions are constitutional. This shows how an idea can be transformed and utilized into a working, living document.

Ideas and thoughts are created every day. It is never known who will read and interrupt the ideas of others, which may help or define how it will impact the future. In the case of John Locke’s First and Second Treatise of Government, Thomas Jefferson was influenced by the idea that the people should govern themselves. Jefferson brought forth these ideas, which are evident in many of the American Founding Father’s writings and the United States Constitution.