1. JOHN LOCKE ENGLISH PHILOSOPHER 1632-1704

2. NATURAL RIGHTS People are born with rights given to them by their creator - LIFE, LIBERTY (freedom) and the OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY. These rights are UNALIENABLE (they can’t be taken away). The job of gov’t is to protect these rights.

3. SOCIAL CONTRACT People give up some of their freedoms in order to have these basic rights protected by the gov’t they created. The gov’t must protect these rights, and if it doesn’t, the people have the duty and the right to create a new gov’t.

4. AM. COLONISTS Most educated colonists had read Locke’s books. Most all colonists were familiar with his work from newspapers, pamphlets, and church sermons.

5. THOMAS JEFFERSON LOCKE INFLUENCED JEFFERSON Locke’s philosophy is seen throughout the Declaration of Independence.