Political Legacy: John Locke and the American Government
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Date
2016-01
Authors
Miyamoto, Matthew
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
John Locke, commonly known as the father of classical liberalism, has arguably
influenced the United States government more than any other political philosopher in
history. His political theories include the quintessential American ideals of a right to
life, liberty, and property, as well as the notion that the government is legitimized
through the consent of the governed.
Locke's theories guided the founding fathers through the creation of the
American government and form the political backbone upon which this nation was
founded. His theories form the foundation of principal American documents such as the
Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, and they
permeate the speeches, writings, and letters of our founding fathers. Locke's ideas
define our world so thoroughly that we take them axiomatically. Locke's ideas are our
tradition. They are our right. This thesis seeks to understand John Locke's political
philosophy and the role that he played in the creation of the United States government.
Description
72 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of Political Science and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Science, Winter 2016.
Keywords
Political science, John Locke, Political legacy, American government, Thomas Jefferson, Founding Fathers, Politics