John Locke popularized the political theory of government by The consent of the concesnt of the governed, which bought with it the protection of the three natural rights; "life,liberty, and estate." John Locke also deeply affected the United States founding documents, for example the ideal of separation between church and state came from his essay on religious tolerance. Another way John Locke has influenced the Americsn government ideals is the popular sovereignty, or the popular vote, the ideal that the people elect their leader. The leaders/government comes from the will of the governed. If the government ever started to violate the will of the people, Americans have the right to change that (the right Americans have to over throw their government)