The Purpose of Government
John Locke and the Formation of Our Constitution
SWBAT
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Define “political power.”
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Explain why a “Social Contract” is better than a “State of Nature.
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Explain how a “Social Contract” is necessary to avoid the “State of War.”
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List and describe three things that are required to ensure the preservation of property.
The Philosophy and Purpose of Government (Outline)
We live in a State of Nature in which there is
 freedom and equality
In Nature we have Natural Rights
 life, liberty, and the right to property (our bodies and our possessions)
But, some individuals use their freedom to take away the rights of others. They want power!
When individuals choose to take away others’ rights it creates a State of War.
 Unfortunately, the State of War is constant. There are always people trying to get power over
others by limiting freedoms and treating others unequally.
So,… now what?
Well, naturally people want security: to preserve their rights and freedoms
To get back to a State of Nature from a State of War, people must agree to work together. This is a
Social Contract, in which people naturally agree to limit some freedoms in order to have security.
Therefore we create Governments. Governments are created to ensure the preservation of property.
Governments must…
 have laws, must be fair and unbiased, and must have the ability to enforce laws.
Governments are created under the Social Contract to support and protect the State of Nature and our
Natural Rights. Governments balance freedoms against the need for security. All of this is for the public
good.
When Government no longer provides this protection, or limits too much freedom then the social
contract is broken. People then have a right and responsibility to rebel.
Hobbes: a Philosopher/Writer
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Wrote Leviathan 1651 (Leviathan: a large beast or powerful organism)
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He introduced the State of Nature
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He believed all had the right to
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Do everything and anything.
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Self-preservation through self-defense.
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This naturally brought man into war.
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War is not in man’s best interest
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The only way out of war, is by entering into a social contract under an authority who will provide
safety and order.
The “Leviathan” was the Monarch (ruler) – he has absolute power
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Hobbes believed: The ruling, protective authority had complete power even in matters of
religion and thought/belief.
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There is no separation of powers (no sharing of power).
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The Leviathan (Monarch) was the Lawmaker, the Judge, and the Executioner – he did
everything.
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Who was in authority over the Leviathan / Monarch? = God?
18th Century Philosophy – Thinkers of the time…
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Put an emphasis on reason and logic
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believed that Social Progress = people friendly politics (politics focused on helping people)
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John Locke was a political philosopher
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He believed that if Natural Laws were logical and could be “discovered” then so should
there be discoverable political / social laws. An example of one natural physical law is
the Law of Gravity. He also believed in Laws that rule social interaction.
Locke believe there were Natural Rights
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All men possess or are “granted” these by the Creator (“among these are . . .”)
Life, Liberty, Property (the right to own)
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Problem: the study of history shows these rights have often been denied (not given)
Locke also believed in these Various States

State of Nature: NEVER LASTS = a period of freedom and equality.
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State of War: PERSISTS INDEFINITELY (forever): “There are always bullies that threaten the
weak.”
o

but individually it cannot last forever . . .
State of Political / Civil Society: Social Contract
Let’s Look at John Locke’s Second treatise of Government…
§ 3 Political power (summary)
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Locke says that Governments are authorized to make rules and penalties, even severe ones,
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to ensure protection of property,
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Governments are also authorized to use the force of the community to enforce these rules
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and protect groups from other groups;
All this for the good of the group.
CHAP. II. Of the State of Nature
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Read §. 4,
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Locke believes all people live in a State of Nature where everyone is free and equal
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What two words describe and characterize the State of Nature?
Answer: FREEDOM
Answer: EQUALITY
State of Nature
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A state of Freedom and Equality
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we live by Natural Laws
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§ 7 Everyone has Equal power and jurisdiction (responsibility) to enforce laws which Locke calls
infringements on Freedom & Equality
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How? § 8-12: People enforce laws by forcing others to follow them through fear of punishment
and threat of death
Questions
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Do we live in a State of Nature?
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Do we have full Freedom and Equality?
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What would be another word for this state? Why?
How are Infringements (activities limiting peoples’ rights) handled?
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Everyone must be responsible to protect these rights
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Ultimately, when individuals refuse to respect others’ natural rights, then killing is the only
option (§ 12)
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If there are no laws then only Threat of Death ensures full protection of your Freedoms.
State of War §16
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Once one man attempts to place another under his absolute power he puts himself into a State
of War with others.
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War is the state of Enmity (disrespect) and Destruction!
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The transgressor (the person trying to take absolute power) has left “reason” and become a
“wolf.” He has chosen to take away others’ rights to freedom and equality.
§ 21 How about a Society?
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Individuals consent (agree) to become a community = social contract
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In a community people create a Government. Political Power is given over to selected
members of the group (leaders)
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Under the Social Contract there is a constant balancing of Natural Rights vs. Security
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Why? To preserve and protect Natural Rights, such as…
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Life, Liberty, Preservation of Property
Preservation of Property
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Why does a State of Nature “want” to achieve Preservation of Property? Ref to § 123.
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§124 To established and share known law which everyone agrees to, so that everyone
knows the standard of what is right and what is wrong
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§125 There needs to be an “indifferent judge”: someone who is unbiased and will fairly
apply the law equally
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§126 There needs to be a Power to “execute,” or carry out the law (Executive)
How far does Political Power extend? How much power should the government have?
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§131 as far as the “common good”
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§ 3 “only for the public good.”
Back to § 3
Political power, reprise
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Governments are authorized (given permission) to make laws and penalties,
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to ensure preservation of property,
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and use the force of the community to enforce these rules
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and protect from other groups;
All of this is for the public good.
Are all Persons in a Social Contract?
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Babies?
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Objectors?
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Tyrants?
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Can more than one STATE exist at the same time among different persons?
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What is the ultimate desire of all Persons?
REBELLION!!
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When is rebellion against the standing government permitted?
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Refer to the opening paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence.
When is Rebellion Justified?
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§ 202 Where-ever law ends, tyranny begins . . .
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§ 203 . . . Leave nothing but anarchy and confusion
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§210 . . . If a long train of actions shew . . .
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§ 211 distinguish between dissolution of the society . . . And the government
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§ 220 . . . The people are at liberty to provide for themselves, by creating a new legislative . . .
(For society can never lose its right to preserve itself)
Connect the Dots . . .
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Prove that you understand Locke’s explanation of the derivation of Political Power.
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Quote a portion of the Declaration of Independence that was adapted from Locke’s
Second Treatise of Government.
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What fat S did that DOI reference come from?
What principle of government do we practice based on Locke that was different from
Hobbes?
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In which fat S’s does that principle originate?
Locke Study Guide (go back and find answers in your notes)
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What three “states” does Locke describe?
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What do individuals hope to gain by giving up certain freedoms?
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Place them in their logical order and briefly explain each providing a quote from The
Second Treatise on Government.
Give an example of a freedom given up to gain a benefit.
List three things that a “State of Nature” wants to achieve “preservation of property.”
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Explain each of the three terms.
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Under what conditions is can individuals rebel against an established authority?
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Define the following terms:
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State of Nature: __________________________________________________________
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Political Power: __________________________________________________________
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State of War: _____________________________________________________________
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Social Contract: ___________________________________________________________
Why do individuals move toward “social contracts?”