John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government, published in 1689, is a cornerstone of liberal political theory. Locke argues that legitimate government rests on the consent of the governed and exists to protect the natural rights of life, liberty, and property. He rejects the divine right of kings and defends the people’s right to resist tyranny.
Written in the wake of England’s Glorious Revolution, the treatise deeply influenced the American and French Revolutions and modern constitutional thought. Its account of property, civil society, and the dissolution of government remains a touchstone of political philosophy. This free EPUB edition offers Locke’s full text for students of early modern ideas.