John Locke and his ideas about philosophy was a major influence on the American
political system, not to mention many other political systems, too. His ideas
were very universal, especially those regarding rights and freedom, two topics
for which the United States of America is best known. Locke claimed that
“there is a law of nature governing human beings and that it is knowable by
human reason”(Lavine, 136). This law of nature is the basis of American
politics, one by which we all live by today. This law included the idea that all
human beings are equal, “possessing the same natural rights of life, liberty,
and property...” and that all human beings have the “same obligation not to
infringe on the rights of other”(136). Most of laws and justifications
Americans live by today are based on exactly these arguments. John Locke’s
statements about this law of nature for all human beings justified many
revolutions, including the American revolution of 1776. Because this revolution
had such a great impact on American political system, it is clear just how
significant Locke’s beliefs were, and still are. His ideas were even clearly
put in the American Declaration of Independence. In Jefferson’s words, the
Declaration of Independence states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness...” Today, the American people may not recognize it at all, but
they do all live by the laws revealed by John Locke.