John Locke is the most influential figure in American history, thought, and practice. Without the influence of his writings, America would not have the same foundation of unalienable rights, stable government, and quality of life. However, Locke remains largely unknown and unstudied by new generations of Americans. His most influential work, the Second Treatises of Government, laid the foundation, both theoretically and institutionally, for the American system of government that has been enjoyed for over two centuries. Its influence on American thinking is evident when examining the text of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. In his treatise Locke addresses the issue of the equality of all men. To correctly understand political philosophy one must first understand the state of nature in which man is born, which is a state of perfect freedom. In the state of nature man enjoys perfect freedom and is equal to all other men. Man's freedom allows him to act as he wants and to use or dispose of his goods as he sees fit (Locke II.4). The freedom enjoyed by man is accompanied by a state of equality, in which it is understood that all men are entitled to the advantages of nature and the use of its resources. In the state of nature, no man has more “power or jurisdiction” (Locke II.4) than any other man. Although natural man is in a state of freedom, Locke is very careful to point out that man is not in a “state of license” (Locke II.6), since man is free to act only within the limits of the law of nature (Locke II.4). The law of nature, which is reason, states that since all men are “equal and independent,” and therefore, no man should cause harm to the “life, health, liberty, or possession” of another man. paper ...incorporated Locke's ideas into the American system of government. They sought to uphold equality, govern by consensus, and protect human rights. In doing so, the Founders established a government that operates within the bounds of reason and nature. That government represents the United States of America today, in part for John Locke, the philosopher. Works Cited Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison, John Jay, and Richard R. Beeman. The Federalist Papers.New York: Penguin, 2012. Print.Jefferson, Thomas. The Declaration of Independence. New York: School Reference, 2002.Print.Locke, John. Second Government Treaty. Ed. CB Macpherson. Indianapolis, IN: HackettPub., 1980. Print.United States Constitutional Convention. Constitution of the United States. National Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Web.