John Locke

Interactions with John Locke's ideas
John Locke was raised in a Puritan household and lived his life during a tumultuous time. During Locke's life, the political realm of Europe was changing, science was beginning to emerge from religious persecution, and religion was changing the attitudes held for the last two hundred years. Locke's work in the areas of politics and free market were influences in the French and American revolutions and contributed to the post revolution democracies of both countries (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2007).
Politically, Locke was outspoken against the monarchy and was sent into exile for his beliefs. Locke did not believe that a monarchy had a divine right to rule and that people had the right to be free of tyrannical rule. Locke significantly contributed to democracy. Locke recommended that free people governed by rule of law and that the powers of that rule should be separated. This concept gave birth to the separation of powers in the constitution of the United States (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2007).
In addition, Locke was one of the founding fathers of liberalism. Liberalism is the belief that a political system that believed in self rule, common law, and free market. Locke believed that people were naturally good and that given the opportunity they would choose freedom and tolerance (Who2 Biography, n.d.).
Locke went to Oxford University and subsequently became a medical doctor. During this period in history, only five openings for medicine existed at Oxford. In addition, science was beginning to emerge from religious doctrine and new branches were beginning to be accepted in universities. The practice of medicine brought Locke to the service of Lord Ashley who attempted to overthrow King Charles II. Eventually, both Lord Ashley and Locke were exiled for their revolutionary efforts (Who2 Biography, n.d.).
Locke's Puritan upbringing had a significant impact on his religious interpretations. Locke believed that people were inherently good and rejected the doctrine of religious extremism. Locke introduced these views into his treatises and papers on liberalism. Locke argued against the religious belief that kings were ordained to rule by God or religious decree (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2007).
Locke produced works regarding an individual's natural rights and a government's social contract with the people or society. In these works, Locke described his belief on self rule, a nation governed by common laws, and the separation of powers in government to avoid monarchies. Locke further described his ideas on free market societies for the sale of goods and services without government interference (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2007).
These concepts were influential in the revolutionary wars that occurred in France and America. At the core of both revolutionary wars were individuals fighting for freedom. Moreover, Locke's concepts contributed to the establishment of the democratic states in both France and America. In addition, Locke's concepts influenced the creation of the Constitution of the United States (Who2 Biography, n.d.).

References
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (2007, May 5). John Locke. Retrieved March 22, 2009 from http://plato.stanford.edu.
Who2 Biography. (n.d.). John Locke. Retrieved March 30, 2009 from http://www.answers.com/topic/john-locke.