John Locke And The American Revolution - 1720 Words

John Locke: A Key to the American Revolution It is widely accepted that the American Revolution was quite different for its time. Some may argue the English revolution was similar in a sense of greatly reducing the power of monarchy, however at this time there had not been many quite like it in the sense of a revolution completely doing away with monarchy. In this revolution we saw a rising movement from the people to oppose monarchy and demand a rule by the people. In this revolution we saw average people rise to take arms against King George after being inspired by literary works of revolutionary figureheads. Most commonly in the form of pamphlets, these literary masterpieces demanded change and spurred others to become passionate revolutionaries hell-bent on liberty. Lines were drawn and this movement soon became in full swing thanks to revolutionaries such as: Samuel Adams, Thomas Paine, and Thomas Jefferson. Their literary propaganda constantly drew more supporters and sympathizers to the cause day after day. There i s one thing however all their literary works have in common. They all are inspired by the same man. A common ancestor of a sorts, almost all of their literary works are heavily influenced by a British man named John Locke who died nearly a hundred years before the revolution began! Almost all of this revolution propaganda is Lockean,and derives from his principles and beliefs. In a sense he is in turn one of the most uncredited authors of his timeShow MoreRelatedInfluence Of Enlightenment On The American Revolution898 Words   |  4 Pages The ideas of the Enlightenment influenced the American Revolution and the formation of the American Government in several different ways. The Enlightenment period initiated several new ideas about freedoms and rights. These ideas were discussed in meetings called salons in France, where they discussed new ideas. There were many influential philosophers from the enlightenment periods, Thomas Hobbes, Montesquieu, Adam Smith, Voltaire, John Locke, and Rousseau. Thomas Hobbes believed that all peopleRead MoreJohn Locke s Theory Of Government884 Words   |  4 Pages This essay will discuss and show how Thomas Jefferson’s theory of revolution follows the speculation of government from the philosopher John Locke. We’ll additionally discuss Thomas Hobbes’s theory of government. Both John Locke and Jefferson’s theories contributed to the American Revolution and to the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson’s theory of revolution found within the Declaration of Independence follows John Locke’s theory of government in multiple aspects, as well as in bothRead MoreBiography of John Locke876 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Locke was a British born philosopher, physician, and writer that played a significant role in the framework of The United States. He was born in Wrington, England on August 29th, 1632. A father, also named John, who was a country lawyer, and his mother Anges Keene, rais ed Locke. Both his parents were Puritans, which influenced his later work immensely (John Locke). Locke’s parents sent him to the famous Westminister School in London where he was led by Alexander Popham, a member of ParliamentRead MoreThe Inspiration of the Declaration of Independence1203 Words   |  5 PagesMany of us tend to wonder what was the inspiration of the Declaration of Independence? What or who influenced one of the greatest founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, to create such an important document in our American history. To really understand what influenced Thomas Jefferson, we must understand some of the men who inspired him when creating this document. Its also important for us to understand the philosophies these men went by, and why Thomas Jefferson wanted incorporate their philosophiesRead MoreThe Enlightenment Ideas Of The American Revolution1423 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Win Soe World Studies 10 Mr. Key Nov 8. 2017 The Enlightenment’s ideas in the American Revolution People in America were mad and broke. The colonies did not like the idea of paying high taxes to the King of England. In order to show their rage and anger, they did it by not paying taxes. The King of England was frustrated by the colonist s action and send an army to the Americas to sort this problem out. However, the people of America wanted to be free from England, so with the helpRead MoreEssay On John Locke And Thomas Hobbes1076 Words   |  5 Pages John Locke and Thomas Hobbes John Locke and Thomas Hobbes, two English Enlightenment philosophers, were both very influential politically and philosophically despite having almost opposite beliefs. While each individually influenced later documents and events such as the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution, they had an equally big impact in history. Today, everyone recognizes natural rights and the modern system of government uses social contracts every day. Thomas HobbesRead MoreClassical Liberalism: Two Treatises on Government by John Locke1152 Words   |  5 Pagesnot inherently bad. If anything, the people need someone to guide them but not have absolute rule over them. Revolutions have been based off of Enlightenment ideals because they are used to benefit the majority not the rich elite. John Locke, and his book Two Treatises on Government, impacted the Enlightenment by spreading the ideals around the world, which influenced revolutions. Locke wrote that â€Å"the state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which isRead MoreThe British Enlightenment And The American Revolution1538 Words   |  7 PagesThe American Revolution was a product of the British Enlightenment as well as both American and British history. The Enlightenment was age of innovation taking place during the 17th and 18th centuries. During this period there were great advancements in science that pushed back religious superstitions, as well as developments in economics and political thinking. (lecture) The British Enlightenment specifically had a large impact on the American Revolution with key figures such as John Locke. HisRead MoreCauses Of The American Revolution1344 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican Revolution The causes of the American Revolution go back to the beginning of salutary neglect and the French and Indian War, as well as changes in the thinking of society. The effects of these events and other factors led to pressure within the colonies, ultimately resulting in rebellion. There were five factors to the nature of the American Revolution: The Environment, The Enlightenment, Self-Government, Economic Independence and Colonial Unity. The first factor that led to the AmericanRead MoreThe Theory Of Government, Science And The Nature Of Human Beings1466 Words   |  6 PagesThomas Hobbes, Baruch Spinoza, Francis Bacon, John Locke, Jean-Jaques Rousseau and Francis Hutcheson are few of the many Enlightenment thinkers that used reason to challenge the structure of government, science and the nature of human beings. For example, Hobbes believed that man was born evil and shared in Aristotle’s belief that government was essentially the preservation of order against man’s instinct for selfishness and violence. In contrast, John Locke believed that each man was born with a ‘blank