How did John Locke help shape the US?

Answer 1

If one is a socialist then perhaps they can find contribution in the writings and works of Jean Jacque Rousseau, but in general he contributed nothing to the United States, unless of course one is a socialist. Rousseau was a prominent French figure who wrote novels as well as philosophical works at the time of the French Revolution and up until his death in 1778. His political and philosophical views mostly stood in stark contrast to the 18th century political movement in America. While the Americans embraced the notion that people are born with inherent and inalienable rights, Rousseau adamantly rejected this view. While there are some similarities between 18th century American philosophy and Rousseau's it is the differences that disqualify him as influential in early American politics. Any contributions that may be claimed would be by the modern day socialists who favor his "Social Contract" whereby the people abandon their natural rights and subject themselves to the general will.

It could be argued that Rousseau's views on education have profoundly influenced modern American education, but the vast majority of his ideas are more prominently found in the public schools famous for dumbing down the public and not in the private schools famous for educating the elite. To claim Rousseau made contributions to our modern public school system is to find someone to blame outside of ourselves for the tragedy that is our public school system which in the end is nothing more than a massive babysitting firm for average Americans with children. Some of those children might learn a thing or two about Rousseau, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, and Machiavelli, they will also learn how our country was founded by rich white slave owners, how the captains of industry who forged prosperity in this country were robber barons and how the socialist movement can't find any political footing in this country because of red baiting by the capitalist system where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

It is hard to find a private school in this country that has suffered the tragedy of school massacres such as Columbine. It is unlikely one will have to pass through a metal detector and negotiate the security guards that patrol public schools in a private school. The question of God in the classroom is a moot point in private schools as the school either preaches God or they don't and those parents who shop for private schools have a choice in the matter. Not so for the parents of children who attend public schools. In the public school system, the individual has abandoned his natural right to be educated and subjected himself to the general will known as School administrators and the PTA. If the socialists believe that the modern public school system is a shining example of Rousseau's influence then they condemn him as just another high minded idiot who so reviles the people in their modern form he had developed a social contract to replace the earlier divine right contract so many tyrants had relied upon, where he alone has the answer for all of us idiots who couldn't possibly survive or obtain happiness without his approval. It is the common characteristic of all utopian's that they necessarily place themselves above the mindless wickedness of the people who could not be trusted without their guidance.

Answer 2

john Locke was an a famous philosopher during the enlightenment in England. His ideas were very influential on the founding fathers. He believed in religious freedom, and he believed in separation of powers in the government. He is quoted to say that, "every man is entitled to defend life, liberty, and posessions" Sounds a lot like "life, liberty and the persuit of happiness", which is so often quoted from our Declaration of Independence. Without him, some of the ideas this country was founded on may not be.

Answer 3

Thomas Jefferson adopted the John Locke's idea and put it in the Constitution. Here are some examples:

1. The four basic rights: life, liberty, equality, and pursuit of happiness.

2. The responsibility of government: government must protect those rights; if the government infringes those rights, it needs to be changed.

3. The representatives: The government arises from the consent of the governed; the power of government should be distributed among different institution.:P :)