Locke and Rousseau

Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states (2).

            This states that the current government, “fail[ed] to fulfill its obligations to the citizenry” (Locke iii).

            When the second paragraph ends Jefferson begins to state the thing the King has done to oppress the states.  These reasons range from, “He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good,” to “He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without consent of our legislature,” to “He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned out towns, and destroyed the lives of our people” (DoI Third Part).  Every one of these reasons, even the ones not stated in this paper, show how the King no longer is helping the public.  The final paragraph states that the United States are no longer under British rule. 

            The Declaration of Independence is very Lockean due to the fact that it complies and shows the reasons, according to Locke are necessary to rebel.

To John Locke a Civil Society is an idea of civilization which is closer to how we live today.  Locke believes that, laws are necessary to “preserve and enlarge freedom” (Locke iii). Locke thinks the government’s sole purpose is for the public good,

 [T]he state exists for the good of mankind, and not the reverse, arguing that political power can only be justified, when it is “genuinely for the public good” and when authority of the ruling body is conditional, not absolute. (iii)

            This shows that to Locke the state, or government, a large part of civil society is for good instead of corruption. 

            The constitution is obviously written to follow Locke’s idea of a Civil Society due to three reasons: it is set-up so the people have a role in government, there is a system of “checks and balances,”, and there is a system to take out unjust rulers. 

            The first part of the Us Constitution is the Preamble.  It states,

We the people of the united States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquilitity, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity (Preamble).

            According to the Preamble the Constitution is set up in order to create justice, peace, and a safe environment for the people of the United States.

            The way our government is set-up the President and Congress are voted on by the people. Although this isn’t Locke’s idea of a prefect government the people effect the government indirectly.  Also a system of “checks and balances” is set-up to ensure the government is acting in the people’s interest by having laws go through more than one branch of the government, and having more than one branch approve war.  One major thing Locke brings up is the effect an unjust ruler can have on a government.  To prevent the president from taking advantage of their power they can be thrown out of office also known as impeachment which can be used when he or the Vice-President is convicted of, “Treason, Bribery, or other high crimes and Misdemeanors” (Article 4 Section 2).

                        A great philosopher like John Locke can have a great impact on many people including across an ocean.  The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution two documents that our great country was based off of, were directly influenced by the ideas of John Locke and the Lockean ways.