Question

John Locke’s political philosophy served the interests of the founders well because it ______.

Answer 1

... because it asserted their right to form their own government.

John Locke's political philosophy was rooted in "social contract" theory. According to his view, a government's power to govern comes from the consent of the people themselves -- those who are to be governed. This was a change from the previous ideas of "divine right monarchy" -- that a king ruled because God appointed him to be the ruler. Locke repudiated the views of divine right monarchy in his First Treatise on Civil Government (1690). In his Second Treatise on Civil Government (1690), Locke argued for the rights of the people to create their own governments according to their own desires and for the sake of protecting their own life, liberty, and property. The people also retain the right to replace a government if it isn't serving to protect their rights.

The American founding fathers drew from Locke's ideas to defend their claim for independence from Britain.

Answer 2

John Locke believed in his political philosophy that people were born naturally free and equal and not pre-ordained as subjects of a monarch and also that they have the right to life, liberty and personal property. Also, as free people they have the right to elect a government that protects these freedoms or alternatively to resist and overthrow a government that does not do this.