John Locke

English philosopher, John Locke, based his theories on natural law. Locke, as well as another philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, felt that a government should be based on a social contract. Although, Hobbes felt that a social contract is an agreement to give up freedom and live under a ruler, Locke felt that the ruler should have limited power and the government should be acceptable to all citizens. Locke believed people in a state of nature are reasonable and moral. Also they are endowed with certain rights at birth, called natural rights, such as life, liberty, and property. Thomas Jefferson,…