A Letter Concerning Toleration; Second Treatise of Government
John Locke's A Letter Concerning Toleration advocates for religious tolerance and the separation of church and state. Civil government should concern itself only with the protection of life, liberty, and property, and not with the salvation of souls or the enforcement of religious conformity. In his Second Treatise of Government, Locke outlines his theory of natural rights and the social contract. All individuals have inherent rights to life, liberty, and property which governments are formed to protect. Political power is derived from the consent of the governed, and citizens have the right to overthrow a government that fails to safeguard their rights. This work profoundly influenced the development of liberal political thought and the principles of democracy, particularly in the formation of modern constitutional governments
