Question

How did John Locke’s beliefs influence American democracy?

Answer 1

Hint: John Locke is one of the most celebrated writers in history and his writings influenced generations. These creations affected the principles based on which the government of the United States was created. He laid the foundation of religion, economics, and politics that influenced the construction of public administration today.

Complete answer:
John Locke is one of the most celebrated writers in history. His most notable concept is the separation of powers. Before him, American ideologies were thoroughly based on the radical reasonings of Thomas Hobbes and Niccolo Machiavelli. John Locke made it modernised. His politics, based on a state of nature, created an overlay of radical and modern premises about religion and morality in the USA. Locke argued for the acceptance of modern liberal democracy and made emphasis on constitutionalism which had a relationship between the political system and the bureaucracy. Finally, he was an important link in the development of modern executive and legislative power in America.

The declaration of Independence of the United States of America and other documents created by Thomas Jefferson was based on Locke's writings. Most of the parts of the declaration were the exact copies of Locke's writings. Philosophical concepts in the declaration, like "all men are created equal and are endowed by their creator" are influenced by Locke’s social contract theory.

Note:Locke created a definition of property depicted as a product of a person’s labour which created the foundation for both Adam Smith’s capitalism and Karl Marx’s socialism. Locke is the author of the famous quote which says that man has three natural rights: life, liberty and property.