Changes

==Natural law, unalienable rights, and the U.S. founding fathers==

==Natural law, unalienable rights, and the U.S. founding fathers==

[[File:Govt placement chart.png|thumb|250px]]

[[File:Govt placement chart.png|thumb|250px]]

The high level of individual freedom in the United States under the [[United States Constitution|U.S. Constitution]], as desired by the [[Founding Fathers]], was inspired by the philosophy of [[John Locke]], who promoted a [[limited government]] based on natural law.<ref>Powell, Jim (August 1, 1996). [https://fee.org/articles/john-locke-natural-rights-to-life-liberty-and-property/ John Locke: Natural Rights to Life, Liberty, and Property]. ''Foundation for Economic Education''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref name="USHistory.org">[http://www.ushistory.org/gov/2.asp 2. Foundations of American Government]. ''USHistory.org''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref name="CRF-USA.org">[https://www.crf-usa.org/foundations-of-our-constitution/natural-rights.html The Declaration of Independence and Natural Rights]. ''Constitutional Rights Foundation''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> Locke argued that all human beings have natural rights which come from [[God]] and thus are unalianable.<ref name="CRF-USA.org"/><ref name="ByasTNA">Byas, Steve (July 4, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/29439-what-is-the-fourth-of-july-really-about What Is the Fourth of July Really About?] ''The New American''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> The government had an obligation to protect the people's natural rights, and if it did not, the people had the right to overthrow and replace it.<ref name="USHistory.org"/><ref name="CRF-USA.org"/><ref name="ByasTNA"/> While distinct from divine law, Locke believed that natural law was consistent with the former.<ref name="Tuckness2005">Tuckness, Alex (November 9, 2005). [https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke-political/ Locke’s Political Philosophy]. ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> Additionally, while he believed that the legislature was the most important part of the government – Locke advocated for the [[Separation of Powers]] to limit government – he still believed that the legislature still had to abide by natural law.<ref name="Tuckness2005"/>

The high level of individual freedom in the United States under the [[United States Constitution|U.S. Constitution]], as desired by the [[Founding Fathers]], was inspired by the philosophy of [[John Locke]], who promoted a [[limited government]] based on natural law.<ref>Powell, Jim (August 1, 1996). [https://fee.org/articles/john-locke-natural-rights-to-life-liberty-and-property/ John Locke: Natural Rights to Life, Liberty, and Property]. ''Foundation for Economic Education''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref name="USHistory.org">[http://www.ushistory.org/gov/2.asp 2. Foundations of American Government]. ''USHistory.org''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref name="CRF-USA.org">[https://www.crf-usa.org/foundations-of-our-constitution/natural-rights.html The Declaration of Independence and Natural Rights]. ''Constitutional Rights Foundation''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> Locke argued that all human beings have natural rights which come from [[God]] and thus are unalianable.<ref name="CRF-USA.org"/><ref name="ByasTNA">Byas, Steve (July 4, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/29439-what-is-the-fourth-of-july-really-about What Is the Fourth of July Really About?] ''The New American''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> The government had an obligation to protect the people's natural rights, and if it did not, the people had the right to overthrow and replace it.<ref name="USHistory.org"/><ref name="CRF-USA.org"/><ref name="ByasTNA"/> While distinct from divine law, Locke believed that natural law was consistent with the former.<ref name="Tuckness2005">Tuckness, Alex (November 9, 2005). [https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke-political/ Locke’s Political Philosophy]. ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> Additionally, while he believed that the legislature was the most important part of the government – Locke advocated for the [[Separation of Powers]] to limit government – he still believed that the legislature still had to abide by natural law.<ref name="Tuckness2005"/>