In 1690, English philosopher John Locke produced two treatises (essays) on government. In his second treatise, he discussed the responsibilities of a government and claimed that the people have the right to overthrow an unjust government. Lockes's Ideas greatly influenced Thomas Jefferson and other supporters of the American Revolution,. In this selection, Lock explains why people form governments.

To understand political power aright... we must consider what estate all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons as they think fit, within the bounds of the laww of nature, without asking leave or depending upon the will of any other man...

Man being... by nature, all free, equal and independent, no one can be put out of this estate and subjuected to the political power of another without his own consent, which is done by agreeing with other men, to join and unite into a community for their comfortable, safe and peacable licing, one amongst another, in a secure enjoyment of their properties, and a greater secutity against any that are not of it....

when any numver of men have, by the concent of every individual, make a dommunity, they have thereby made that community one body, with a power the act as one body, whish is only by the will and determination fo the majority... and thus every man, by consention with others to make one body politic under one government, puts himself under an obligation to eveyr one in that socity to submit to the determination of the majority, and to be concluded by it...

if a man in the state of nature... be absolute lord of his own person and possessions, equal to the greatest and subject to nobody, why will he part with heis freedom, this empire, and subject himself to the dominion and control of any other power?... It is obvious to answer that though in the state of nature he hath such a right, yet the enjoyment of it is very uncertain and constantly exposed to the invasion of others; for all being kings as much as he, every man his equal... the enjoyment of the property he has in this state is very unsafe, very insecure. this makes him willing to quit this condition which, however free, is full of fears and continual dangers; and it is not without reason that he seeks out and is willing to join in society with others... for the mutual preservation of their lives, liberties and estates, whish i call by the general name - property.

the great and chief end, therefore, of men uniting into commonwealths, and putting themselves under government, is the preservation of their property.