John Locke's Second Treatise On Government Essay

1. In Locke’s Second Treatise on Government he proceeded and succeeded to define in his own words the “role of the civil government”. The first key point Locke tried to make in this documents was that to imagine there was no government and then imagine there was a government. Without the government there would be next chaos among large groups of people. So therefore, a government was needed, because he believed that man was made free however, was also made to be governed. This government is needed to protect the free people in many different ways. This then leads me into my next key point. Because the government is set in place for the people, it should be created by the people. Meaning those in power were selected by the people they govern. …show more content…
One that they see fit to lead them. This can cause an instinctive and justified rebellion against those who abuse power and refuse to give it up. Moving on to the next key point Locke made in his document. The government needs society. If society breaks down the government breaks down. Society falls when everyone wants to act as a single player instead of a team. This then causes the government to collapse because you can’t have a government without a group of well put together people to govern. However if a government falls, it leaves a still intact society that can build the government back up. Last key point in this document was the fact that if a government tries to enslave it’s people then they give up their power over them, if they do not then Locke agrees with a rebellion. This document was used for the justification of the American Revolution because Locke believed if a government abuses its trust then the people have a right to revoke that trust and be the government for themselves or place that trust into new hands. That is exactly what the American Revolution was