How did the ideas of John Locke change the way people thought about government? (2 points)

Question

Responses

People thought monarchs should have more power.
People thought monarchs should have more power.

People thought governments should have more power.
People thought governments should have more power.

People thought governments should have much less power.
People thought governments should have much less power.

People believed that governments should protect the natural rights of people.

Answer 1

John Locke's ideas fundamentally shifted the way people thought about government in two key ways:

1. Government as a Protector of Natural Rights: Locke argued that the primary role of government is to protect the natural rights of individuals, which include life, liberty, and property. This notion led to a belief that government should exist primarily to serve the people rather than exercise power over them.

2. Consent of the Governed: Locke emphasized the concept of the social contract, asserting that governments derive their authority from the consent of the governed. This challenged the traditional view of monarchy and suggested that political power should be based on the agreement of the people rather than divine right or hereditary rule.

Therefore, the correct response would be: People believed that governments should protect the natural rights of people.