# Right to Revolution in Two Treatises of Government

> Theme guide for Two Treatises of Government by John Locke.

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.

## Where it surfaces

- [III: Of the State of War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/xix-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.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/themes/right_to_revolution
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/themes