John Locke

1. John Locke By: Danny Bernt, Luke Boorady and Spenser Clouse

2. Biography • Born August 29th1632 in Wrington, Somerset, England • Raised in a privileged, Puritan family as a result of his father’s job as a lawyer and Captain in the military • Attended Westminster School in 1647, and eventually Christ Church at Oxford

3. Biography • Studied many subjects including logic, classical languages, and medicine • Graduated in 1674 with a bachelor’s of medicine • Took part in medical research and later became a philosopher • An Essay Concerning Human Understanding • Two Treatises on Civil Government

4. Philosophical Ideas • Believed that people could govern themselves if a social contract was in place • Give up some rights for safety • Thought humankind is basically good and caring • People should be able to rebel against unfair governments and govern themselves

5. Beliefs in Government • Representative democracy with limited power • Governments should respect the rights of the individual • Social contract • Natural rights – life, liberty, property • Men should be free, equal, and independent • Basis for political liberalism

6. Affects • Supported rebellion from an unfair government (English monarchy) • Colonists realized that English monarchy did not respect their natural rights explained by Locke • They realized that they deserved better than the English monarchy

7. Affects • Led to the desire for democratic self government with a social contract and natural rights • Many of Locke’s ideas are present in the U.S. Constitution • Representative democracy • Natural rights of individuals