John Locke Nano-History Paper

Nathaniel Austin

Professor Kimberly Lark

History 151

19 February 2017
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Nathaniel Austin

Professor Kimberly Lark

History 151

19 February 2017

John Locke Nano-History Paper

The emancipation of British colonists is the reason why America is around today. This

separation from Britain was spurred onward by many philosophers of many countries. John

Locke is one of these philosophers. His ideas and thoughts are quoted directly into Americas

Constitution and Bill of Rights. Without him, America would not be the same as it is, and we

own him that debt of gratitude. John Locke was a revolutionary pioneer in the areas of

philosophy and many other areas of learning. The history of John Locke led to his new

philosophical and revolutionary ideas that impacted America for the better.

Locke lived in a time of great minds and scientific revolution. He was sent to a school in

Westminster as a teenager to learn the ways of the world. He learned much there and then went

on to the Christ Church in Oxford to study theology (History.com Staff 1). When he left Oxford

ready to make his mark on the world, he caught someones attention. The earl of Shaftesbury

offered to sponsor John Locke and teach him things about the world and everything in it. They

ended up having a great friendship and later worked together. The Earl was a great influence in

Lockes life and helped to shape him in the way that would later define the way he would

interpret the ideas of philosophy (Rogers 2).

The political philosophy of John Locke radically impacted the way America looked at

political freedom. He had many writings over the course of his life that define political freedom.

His most famous writing The Two Treatises of Government was what the constitution quoted. It
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talked about the natural rights of man and the social contract (John Locke 2). The Two

Treatises of Government was published in 1689. Although it was published then, it was created

long before. The First Treatise talks about the divine right of kings and how all power and

control in the world comes from God. Nothing can exist or have power without God. He is in

command of everything. The Second Treatise talks about the natural rights of man which are life,

liberty, and property. These rights are given by God to every man and woman. We have these

rights and nothing can take them away (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy 3). Another of

Lockes famous writings was An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. This talks about

many different philosophical theories but was not used as much in the American Constitution as

the Two Treatises. He teaches about identity, language, knowledge, and other human qualities

(Rogers 6). These writings help to shape America and the way it views personal freedom.

America was changed by John Lockes political philosophies and ideas. His natural rights

of life, liberty, and property were mostly incorporated into the Constitution. Only the ideas of life

and liberty were put into the Constitution. Property was left out and replaced with pursuit of

happiness to appease the slave owners. His idea of the social contract helped to make the

republic that we live in today. Guier says, Perhaps Lockes greatest influence on the

Constitution would be the idea that the power of government should be distributed among

different institutions. John Locke said that power should be divided among the government

divisions. That is why we have our different branches of government (Guier 2). Without John

Locke, our government would not have lasted as long as it has.

John Lockes unique history has led to the development of new revolutionary ideas that

shaped America. John Lockes schooling at Westminster impacted the way that he saw the world

and his place in it. It is there where he started to make his sociological theories. His time at the
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Christ Church in Oxford gave him a Christian connection that helped to further his theories. The

Earl of Shaftesbury was the patron of John Lockes revolutionary ideas and helped to make him a

popular voice in the philosophical community. His books the Two Treatises of Government and

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding put many ideas into effect. His ideas of natural

rights and government power division impacted American government and politics. His ideas

helped to write the Constitution and many of our laws. Without John Lockes ideas, we would

have never made the laws we have today and we would be a completely different country.
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Works Cited

Guier, Spencer. "John Locke's Influence on the United States Constitution." Guier Law. N.p., 13

Apr. 2016. Web. 18 Feb. 2017.

History.com Staff. "John Locke." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 08 Feb.

2017.

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2017.

"John Locke." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 25 Aug. 2015. Web. 08 Feb. 2017.

Rogers, Graham A.J. "John Locke." Encyclopdia Britannica. Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc., 14

Dec. 2015. Web. 08 Feb. 2017.