Part 5/8:
John Locke and the Foundations of Modern Democracy
The Protestant emphasis on consent and individual rights influenced key Enlightenment thinkers, most notably John Locke. Locke’s Two Treatises of Government articulated ideas about property rights and government by the consent of the governed, rooted in the Christian notion that humans are created in the divine image and therefore possess inherent dignity and rights.
Locke's theories represented a revolutionary break from earlier forms of authority, championing the notions that individuals are entitled to life, liberty, and property and that governments must serve the interests of their citizens. His ideas laid the groundwork for modern concepts of democracy and constitutional government.