1. John Locke Jason Beneducci, James Petriello and Jack Sudnikovich

2. Early Years Born on August 29, 1632 in Wrington, Somerset, England to the parents of Agnes Keene and John Locke the elder Father was a lawyer in the town of Pensford and also served as a captain of the Calvary of the Parliamentarians During his infancy his mother died Locke began to reject the king’s right to divine rule at the age of 10

3. Education Attended Westminster School He then went to Christ’s Church Oxford and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in medicine After collaborating with the famous scientist Robert Boyle, medicine played a major role in his life

4. Job He moved to London and became the personal physician of Lord Ashley Assisted him in political and commercial affairs as well as business Obtained a government role from Lord Ashley (the new Earl of Strasburg

5. Books Essay Concerning Human Understanding -Outlined his views of the human mind and served as one of the principal sources of the empiricism philosophy A Letter Concerning Toleration - Discusses Locke’s ideas on religious toleration Two Treatises of Government (1690) - Everyone is equally created - People own their own body

6. Philosophical Ideas Humans could govern themselves Felt that a centralized government was necessary -Main duty is to protect the natural rights of the citizens -Citizens able to overthrow a tyrannical rule Religious toleration Believed that humans were generally good however they are born with “tabula rasa” or a blank slate -The environment in which one lives influences whether a person is good or bad it is undecided before birth

7. Ideas behind his thinking Guided by his deep Christian beliefs - Accepted the existence of God and believed that all the humans on Earth are his servants

8. Beliefs in Government Instituted by the consent of those being governed Government should protect the natural rights of citizens Legislative body should be central – Create laws that are enforced “for the common good” Government should be founded upon a social contract – Majority rules, and equality should be spread (Democracy forming) Power separated between legislative, executive, and judicial branch

9. New Ideas Popularized the idea of natural rights -All people are born with the rights of life, liberty and property Promoted religious freedom for all -A Letter Concerning Toleration Social Contract - Argued that the people should form a “neutral judge” to protect the natural rights

10. Influence on American Separation from England Theory of natural rights- - If the government does not protect the natural rights of the people it can be overthrown Government Rules for the “common good” -Britain was using the colonies as a source of income Tabula Rasa -People are born with a blank slate and anyone could become anything