Second Treatise of Government

John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government argues that individuals are naturally free and equal, possessing rights to life, liberty, and property. Governments are formed through a social contract to protect these rights. When a government fails to do so or becomes oppressive, people have the right to overthrow it and create a new one. Locke emphasizes that legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed, advocating for limited government and individual rights as fundamental principles for a just society.