Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why did John Locke defend a right to overthrow a government that fails to protect natural rights?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Painting by Rembrandt showing Aristotle in rich dark clothing with a gold chain, resting his hand thoughtfully on a marble bust of Homer, illuminated against a dark background. — natural law *Aristotle Contemplating the Bust of Homer*, oil on canvas by Rembrandt van Rijn, 1653; in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

John Locke defended the right to overthrow a government because he viewed political authority as a social contract created solely to protect the natural rights of life, liberty, and property.12

For Locke, government power is not absolute; it is a "morally sanctioned capacity" held in trust. Because the legitimacy of any commonwealth depends entirely on the consent of the governed, a government that fails to protect these fundamental rights—or acts in a despotic manner—violates its primary purpose.324

When a government abuses this trust, it effectively breaks the contract, returning the power to the people. Locke argued that the people themselves are the ultimate judges of whether their trust has been betrayed. Consequently, he affirmed that in such extreme circumstances, the people are entitled to revolution, using force if necessary to replace the failing government with one that will secure their safety and rights. This principle became a cornerstone of modern liberalism and profoundly influenced the United States Declaration of Independence.412