John Lock's influence on American political thought and the origins of self-government in the late 17th century a revolutionary idea emerged that would shape the course of history John Loch an English philosopher proposed a radical idea government was not a Divine institution but a human creation Lock's Theory challenged the prevailing belief that monarchs were appointed by God instead he argued that people voluntarily entered into a social contract with their government trading a small portion of their freedom for protection of their lives Liberty and property this idea the social contract had profound implications if a government failed to protect its citizens rights or abused its power lock argued the people could withdraw their consent to be governed and form a new government Lock's ideas found fertile ground in the British colonies of North America the colonists already accustomed to a degree of self-governance through institutions like Virginia's House of Burgesses embraced the notion that government power should be limited and that people should govern themselves this tradition of self-government had deep roots in the colonies as early as 169 Virginia established its House of Burgesses a year later the pilgrims authored the Mayflower Compact agreeing to create laws through male voters in the colony by the 18th century all the American colonies had established legislatures where elected representatives made laws for their fellow colonists this system laid the groundwork for the American concept of democracy when the British Parliament and King began to threaten this tradition of Representative self-government tensions Rose the colonists armed with locks ideas began to question the legitimacy of British rule in 1776 these tensions culminated in a bold and unprecedented move the American colonies declared their independence from England not just to replace one Monarch with another but to establish an entirely new nation this new nation would be founded on the principle that government power should be severely limited the colonists sought to create a system where the people truly governed themselves a radical departure from the monarchies of Europe the American Revolution therefore was not just a war for independence it was a battle of ideas a struggle to implement locks theories of government and expand the concept of self-governance to an entire nation these ideas that government derives its power from the consent of the governed that it should be limited in its Authority and that people have the right to self-governance became the cornerstones of American political thought from the Declaration of Independence to the Constitution these principles shape the foundation of American democracy creating a system of government that continues to influence political thoughts around the world to this day