John Locke Legacy

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At one point in time, monarchies were the dominant form of government. King James VI and I famously stated in a speech to parliament, “Kings are justly called gods for that they exercise a manner or resemblance of divine power upon earth.” The authority of kings was believed to be derived from the divine right of kings, meaning their power to rule was directly granted by God. However, the Age of Enlightenment brought forth innovative ideas across various fields such as anthropology, sociology, economics, and political science. John Locke, a key political theorist of this enlightened period, was born on August 29, 1632, and passed away on October 28, 1704. Locke’s legacy continues to shape political thought and government structures around the …show more content…
In Locke's work Of Civil Government, he discusses the concept of social contract as the formation of a community or government through the consent of individuals. He clearly states, “When any number of men have so consented to make one community or government, they are thereby presently incorporated, and make one body political, wherein the majority have a right to act and conclude the rest” (Locke). Locke is expressing the idea of a mutual agreement between citizens and their government, serving as the basis for the establishment of laws, rights, and responsibilities within a society. He also highlighted the idea that governments derive their legitimacy and authority from the consent of the governed, rather than from divine right or force. Furthermore, the social contract theory promotes the idea of a government that is accountable to its citizens and responsive to their needs and concerns. Locke’s ideas on social contract are enshrined in important documents of the United States, including the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson writes in The Declaration of Independence, “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed” (Jefferson). Jefferson agrees with Locke. There is little to no difference between Locke’s words and Jefferson’s words. This evidence shows this, “The American Declaration of Independence echoes Locke’s ideology of revolt as well as his view that government derives their just powers from the consent of the governed” (Fiero). The Locke concept of social contract remained theoretical until the creation of America. With the help of Locke, Jefferson successfully implemented the value of social contracts in the United States of
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