How Did John Locke Influence The American Revolution

Liberties, freedoms and the idea of natural rights expressed by the 17th-century philosopher, John Locke, influenced the British colonists’ rebellion against the crown through various ways. The legislation and taxation being enforced upon colonists, which was ignored by English parliament until the end of the French and Indian War, was now being imposed throughout the thirteen colonies causing an uprise of fiery colonists. After a trend of involuntary taxation acts forced on colonists, the once loyal and law abiding British citizens, were now beginning to oppose their mother country. The colonists were starting to rebel the crown by boycotting and destroying goods, tarring loyal merchants, taunting British soldiers, using the printing press, and publishing anti-British documents. Within the colonies, mostly northern colonies, colonists started …show more content…
The realization of the unequal status and voice as a British citizen led to colonists to compare their natural rights to the equality of slaves. This comparison and reason for resistance was expressed through the words of John Dickinson, “We are faced without or own consent, expressed by ourselves or our representatives. We are therefore—Slaves.” Meanwhile, John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government (1680), previously expressed the thoughts of the fiery British colonists. Locke expressed the idea of a social contact, being a government based on an agreement among the elite and powerful social classes. Although, Locke believed that a successful government should benefit all citizens by including individual rights, citizen representation to discuss legislation issues and the right for citizens to revolt against a problematic or failing government. Ultimately, these rationalized thoughts were the basis of the fight