Two Treatises of Government

Two Treatises of Government stands as one of the foundational texts of liberal democratic theory. John Locke articulated a vision of natural rights — life, liberty, and property — that belong to all individuals prior to the formation of government, and he defended the right of revolution against tyrannical authority. His arguments directly influenced the framers of the American Declaration of Independence, making this work one of the most politically consequential philosophical texts ever written.

Written in the wake of the Glorious Revolution of 1688, Locke's Two Treatises provided the philosophical justification for the overthrow of absolute monarchy and the establishment of constitutional government. Thomas Jefferson drew directly and extensively from Locke's language and reasoning when drafting the Declaration of Independence, embedding Lockean principles of natural rights and the consent of the governed at the very heart of the American political tradition.