2007-01-03 07:23:20 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Yes, for two reasons, mainly. Locke's ideas of (1) a social contract between governor and governed and (2) of the right to the pursuit of life, liberty and property were known to and popular with the authors of the Constitution.
The social contract idea is that people choose to give the power of government to a leader on their terms, as much as possible, and that when the terms are no longer acceptable, the people have a natural right to change their government. This is also phrased as a ruler governing with the consent of the governed.
The phrase "pursuit of life, liberty and property" is the main source of the phrasing of our inalienable rights, "life, liberty, and happyness" - excuse me, happiness - which amounts to something a little greater than Locke's formulation.
Life - The government can't kill us without redress, and is required to protect us.
Liberty - The government is constrained in its actions against us, and passes and enforces laws to protect us from each other.
Property - The government recognizes and supports our right to ownership, and takes measures in pursuit of that right.
Happiness - The government is constrained from interfering in our private lives.
I think these basic ideas - combined with the other founding ideas from Rousseau, the Biblical texts, the Liberal economists (Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations, pub. 1776!) and English constitutional traditions (such as habeas corpus, RIP Oct. 16, 2006) form the basis of our civil liberties, without which we are lost.
2007-01-03 07:41:24 · answer #1 · answered by umlando 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Virtually all the founders were well versed in Locke. Much of the content of Jefferson's opening statements in the Unanimous Declaration can be found in Locke's writings. Nature and Natures God. Natural, Unalienable rights, right to private property, right to ones labor, the concept that God Created man and mans rights come from God. That man created government and government cannot infringe on mans rights that were granted by God (unalienable).
2007-01-03 07:45:06 · answer #2 · answered by dem_dogs 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because his philosophy of Life Liberty and Property are the backbone to the constitution of the United States. (Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness)
2007-01-03 07:31:14 · answer #3 · answered by Cow 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because he was one of the few who made his own homework.
2007-01-03 08:08:05 · answer #4 · answered by tankbuff, 19 violations so far 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋