Second Treatise of Government

John Locke 1689

A clear argument that government exists to protect people's lives, liberty, and property, and rests on their consent. If a ruler breaks that trust, Locke says, the people have the right to replace him.

201 pages 3h 54m reading time

A central text of modern liberal democracy.
Argues that people are born with natural rights to life, liberty and property, and that governments exist only to protect them.
Holds that because government rests on the consent of the governed, a people may overthrow a ruler who abuses that trust.
Its ideas run through the Declaration of Independence, from the consent of the governed to the right to abolish bad government.

Kept his name secret

Locke never admitted writing it in public, owning up only in an addition to his will shortly before he died.
Older than it looks

It came out after the 1688 revolution, but was likely written years before, when defying the king was dangerous.
Half of a pair

It followed a first essay attacking Robert Filmer, who claimed kings inherited their power from Adam.
Much of it lost

In his preface Locke says a large middle part was lost, and that it was longer than all that survived.