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In Fletcher vs Peck, John Marshall upheld John Locke's Enlightenment belief in people's "natural rights" to life, liberty and _______________. State's should not be able to cancel private property contracts.

1) Happiness
2) Property
3) Justice
4) Equality

1 Answer

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Final answer:

In Fletcher vs Peck, John Marshall supported the idea that people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property, which aligns with John Locke's Enlightenment views. The answer to the question is 2) Property. Locke's assertion that these rights are unalienable set a basis for the social contract and civil government.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Fletcher vs Peck, John Marshall upheld John Locke's Enlightenment belief in people's "natural rights" to life, liberty, and property. This concept affirms that states should not have the power to annul private property contracts aligning with Locke's notion that these rights are inalienable and must be safeguarded by the government. The correct answer to the student's question is therefore 2) Property.John Locke, an influential English philosopher contended that in the state of nature, individuals have inherent rights to life, liberty and property.

These rights are considered unalienable and serve as the foundation for building a social contract and forming civil society. Governments are instituted among people hese vital natural rights. Furthermore while Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence adapted Locke's principles to include "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness," Locke's original trifecta did not involve the pursuit of happiness but rather included property as a natural right. Locke believed that one's labor could rightfully transform natural resources into personal property underscoring his view that property is a fundamental human right.

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