John Locke's ideas significantly changed the way people thought about government in a couple of key ways:
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Social Contract Theory: Locke proposed that governments are formed through a social contract, where individuals consent to surrender some of their freedoms in exchange for the protection of their natural rights, which include life, liberty, and property. This challenged the notion of the divine right of kings and posited that the legitimacy of government stems from the consent of the governed, establishing the foundation for modern democratic thought.
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Right to Revolt: Locke argued that if a government violates the natural rights of its citizens or fails to act in their best interests, the people have not only the right but the duty to overthrow it. This idea empowered individuals and influenced revolutionary movements, asserting that citizens are not just subjects but active participants in shaping their governance. This concept laid the groundwork for modern notions of democracy and civil rights.
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