Lockes Government

Treatise on Civil Government by John Locke, are two similar works. Locke’s work seems to

have had an influence on Jefferson when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. Both works

were written on government, what it should and should not be.

Locke brings the view that the state exists to preserve the natural rights of its citizens.

When governments fail in that task, citizens have the right--and sometimes the duty--to

withdraw their support and event to rebel. Locke maintained that the state of nature was a happy

and tolerant one, that the social contract preserved the preexistent natural rights of the

individual to life, liberty, and property, and that the enjoyment of private rights-- the pursuit of

happiness-- led, in civil society, to the common good.

Locke’s form of government is simple, yet confusing. Locke’s government is broken

down into four main areas, the State of Nature ( SN ), the State of War ( SW ), Civil

Society ( CS ), and Political Society ( PS ). Locke begins by recognizing the differences

between power, in general, and political power in particular. Locke believes political power to

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Approximate Word count = 1643
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)