Why did John Locke write Two Treatises of Government?

John Locke wrote Two Treatises of Government primarily as a response to the political climate of 17th-century England, specifically the exclusion controversy. This debate centered on whether to legally forbid the succession of James, the Roman Catholic brother of King Charles II, to the throne.1

Locke, a staunch supporter of the Whigs and a proponent of constitutional monarchy, used the work to articulate his political philosophy regarding the origins and limits of government authority. While composed earlier, the text served as a justification for the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which deposed James II and established the reign of William III and Mary II.12

Ultimately, Locke argued that the purpose of government is to protect natural law—specifically life, liberty, and property. He maintained that if an executive fails to uphold these conditions, the people are ethically entitled to remove that power, even by force if necessary.3