What natural rights did John Locke say that people possess?

The English philosopher John Locke argued that in the hypothetical "state of nature" that precedes the formation of civil society, all individuals possess fundamental natural rights. Specifically, Locke identified these as the rights to life, liberty, and property.1234

Locke maintained that these rights are inherent to individuals as human beings and exist independently of any government. He posited that the primary purpose of a legitimate government, established through a social contract, is to protect these natural rights. Because individuals own their own persons and the fruits of their labor, government authority is limited and must rely on the consent of the governed.235

If a government fails to secure these rights or acts in a despotic manner, Locke argued that the people have a moral right to replace it, as the protection of life, liberty, and property is the essential rationale for the existence of the state. Additionally, Locke considered freedom of conscience to be a natural right of all men.3125