Locke Vs. Jefferson
By: Amanda Avalos, Trever Larson, and Trevor Onstott
Unalienable rights
"that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"
Johne Locke:
“we must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions”
Everyone has God given rights that cannot be taken away from them. All men are entitled to free will and the government should protect these rights and freedom.
The people have the right to alter the government
"“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,”
John Locke:
“In these and the like cases, when the government is dissolved, the people are at liberty to provide for themselves, by erecting a new legislative, differing from the other, by the change of persons, or form, or both, as they shall find it most for their safety and good:”
If a government is corrupt or destructive to the people, the people have the right to overthrow or alter the government to support the well being of everyone. The government should be for the people and by the people.
All men are equal
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal”
John Locke:
“A state also of equality, wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another”
All men were created equal and should be treated equally. All men should abide by the same laws and respect everyones unalienable rights, helping the government to protect them.
Entitlement to private property
Thomas Jefferson:
"He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance .... He has combined with others to subject us, ... imposing taxes on us without our consent."
John Locke:
“So that God, by commanding to subdue, gave authority so far to appropriate: and the condition of human life, which requires labour and materials to work on, necessarily introduces private possessions.”
Everyone is entitled to their private property and possessions. The government should protect mens right to private property. Property or possessions should not unjustly be taken away from man.
Government by and for the people
“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”
John Locke:
“The only way whereby anyone divests himself of his natural liberty, and puts on the bonds of civil society, is by agreeing with other men to join and unite into a community, for their comfortable, safe, and peaceable living one amongst another, in a secure enjoyment of their properties, and a greater security against any that are not of it.”
The government is created by the people and for the good of the people. The people should vote on matters and no one person should have complete power.
Most Important similarities
This idea protects the people from a dictatorship. Without this idea we would not be where we are today. The governments entire purpose is ultimately to provide an environment to benefit the people as a whole, thus making this an extremely important idea to preserve.
Unalienable rights.
This idea protects all mens freedom, equality, and possessions. Without this idea we might still have slavery today. The government should protect all mens private property and never unjustly take it away. All men have free will and have the right to pursue their happiness without interfering with anothers. This idea is so important because it contributes to the government being in place to benefit the people as a whole and make an enjoyable and functional social enviorment.