How did John Locke influence the American Revolution?
My political writings, especially the *Two Treatises of Government*, provided a philosophical justification for revolution. I argued that government is a trust based on the consent of the people, and when a ruler becomes tyrannical—violating natural rights to life, liberty, and property—the people have a right to dissolve that government and establish a new one. This idea directly influenced Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, where he echoed my language about inalienable rights and the right of the people to alter or abolish destructive governments. My emphasis on limited government, separation of powers, and popular sovereignty also shaped the U.S. Constitution and the thinking of figures like James Madison.
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