Two Treatises of Government · Question
How does Two Treatises of Government develop the theme of Right to Revolution?
Answer
Two Treatises of Government by John Locke develops Right to Revolution across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
When a government violates its trust by acting against the people's liberty and property, the people have the right to resist, alter, or dissolve that government and establish a new one.
When the law is perverted to protect violence, the injured have no earthly appeal and must appeal to heaven, implying a right to resist unjust authority.
Locke asserts that when the legislative or executive uses force without authority against the people, it creates a state of war, and the people have the right to remove such power by force.
Locke asserts that when rulers exercise power for harm, the people have no earthly judge and may appeal to heaven, justifying resistance against tyranny.
Evidence in the book
- III: Of the State of War
When the law is perverted to protect violence, the injured have no earthly appeal and must appeal to heaven, implying a right to resist unjust authority.
- XIII: Of the Subordination of the Powers of the Commonwealth
Locke asserts that when the legislative or executive uses force without authority against the people, it creates a state of war, and the people have the right to remove such power by force.
- XIV: Of Prerogative
Locke asserts that when rulers exercise power for harm, the people have no earthly judge and may appeal to heaven, justifying resistance against tyranny.
- XVI: Of Conquest
Locke asserts that the conquered and their descendants have the right to appeal to heaven and resist unjust governments imposed by force.
- XVIII: Of Tyranny
Locke justifies resistance to unlawful force and argues that when governors act tyrannically, the people may oppose them.
- Of the Dissolution of Government
Locke asserts that when the legislative or prince acts contrary to trust—invading property or imposing arbitrary power—the people are absolved from obedience and may resist, resume their liberty, and establish a new government.
