Explain how john locke influenced the ideas and action of the patriots?

Answer 1

The founders were certainly familiar John Locke's ideas about "natural rights" and the "social contract" theory of government, as well as the idea of a "right of revolution" flowing out of these. And they used these notions to support their argument for their final rejection of King George's rule.This is very clear in the Lockean language of the preamble to the Declaration of Independence.

But it is important to observe that these ideas did NOT stand alone. In fact, if you look at the specific ideas and FORMS of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution you will find MUCH that continues long-developing British traditions. For example, language and arguments from the "English Bill of Rights of 1689" are echoed in the Declaration (not too surprising since that document ALSO was a public justification [by Parliament] of rejecting the rule of a British king), as well as in the Bill of Rights later incorporated in the U.S. Constitution.

We find that their ideas about their proper political rights as Englishmen had LONG roots. Locke may have helped them develop SOME of the arguments for the NATURE of these rights and WHY they existed, but the foundations rested on other traditions, and elements of their own (English) history. Indeed, throughout the 17th century, BEFORE any influence from Locke, colonists (esp in New England) had written up their understanding of the RIGHTS that were theirs as Englishmen.

In other words, Locke shaped SOME of the terms and arguments they used (e.g., "the right to life, liberty and property"; he also spoke of 'happiness' [that is well-being, prosperity]), and provided some arguments they used to support these ideas, esp. as expressed in the political pamphlets they wrote up to and during the Revolution. But when they came to write documents like the various Declaration-S of independence (including the many state declarations that preceded th national one), they ALSO drew MUCH of the language and the whole shape of the DECLARATION with its list of grievances from traditional historical forms that preceded Locke.

You might wish to take a look at the English Bill of Rights see
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/england.htm

Also, an oft-overlooked antecedent to the Declaration of Independence was the "Declarations and Resolves" of the First Continental Congress. That document actually appeals to much more than Lockean "natural rights". Rather, it COMBINES an appeal to their HISTORICAL rights as Englishmen, and combines these specific rights in the list with universal principles or "laws of nature" (echoing Locke) with a whole series of specific civil and political rights they claim based on the HISTORY of English Constitutional law, their own (colonial) experience with 'compacts', etc.
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/resolves.htm

Answer 2

John Locke explained the natural rights of man were "Life, Liberty, and Property" which Thomas Jefferson re-worded in the Declaration of Independence

Answer 3

John Locke from lost? :) We will not do your homework here.